Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral infectious disease, and areas with inadequate sanitation are breeding grounds for it. China, Southeast Asia, South America, and parts of Africa are common locations of Hepatitis A cases.

There is no cure for hepatitis A at the moment, and the majority of treatment is to maintain a healthy body and a balanced diet, including restoring fluids lost via vomiting and diarrhea.

Hepatitis A can be prevented through good nutrition, personal and environmental hygiene, and hepatitis A vaccination in children.

Mode of transmission

Hepatitis A virus can survive in fresh or salt water for up to 12 months and in food for more than a few days, therefore infection can occur in the following ways:

     Eating contaminated undercooked food, particularly shellfish.
     Drinking water that has been contaminated with viruses and has not been appropriately treated.
     Close contact to an infected patient.

Incubation time: 2 to 6 weeks