Hepatitis A
1. The infectious disease known as Hepatitis is caused by the infectious agent or pathogen identified as the Hepatitis A virus. There are currently seven known forms of Hepatitis, such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and so on. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are the most common with the highest rate of people contracted with the infectious disease. Viral Hepatitis is an international main contributor to liver disease and accounts for high illness and death. In the United States Hepatitis A, HAV for short has reached a massive decline of occurrences since vaccinations became available. The decrease in incidences has nearly hit ninety percent. Though, there are still over twenty five thousand people infected in the United States each year with Hepatitis A.

2. The infectious agent Hepatitis A is transmitted through food and water which is contaminated with human feces. There are people who are at greater risk than others in contracting Hepatitis A, such as those who may handle contaminated food. Hepatitis A can also spread in daycare centers. Children and especially babies still in diapers may get feces on their hands, handle toys or other objects that they may put in their mouths. The daycare staff also puts themselves and the children at higher risk if they are not diligent in washing their own hands after changing a diaper or helping a child use the restroom. There are international regions where Hepatitis A is prevalent, with that said those who travel to these places frequently are more at risk. Additionally, since Hepatitis A virus is transmitted through water, those who ingest seafood from contaminated water are at risk as well.

3. Food poisoning is an example of a real life outbreak in the United States. In cases of contaminated food it is commonly the individual who is preparing the food who infects it. In most cases, the food handler is not aware they are infected with HAV. Hepatitis has become rare in the United States due to the vaccinations and having a strong sanitation system. There is a reported thirty to fifty thousand cases occulting each year in the United States. These out breaks in the United States in our food or water, causing food poisoning is a good example due to how much other people do handle out food. Even when cooking in our own homes, if we are diligent of washing our hands after using the rest rooms, changing our children’s diapers, making sure our children wash their hands as well, we are putting our families at risk.

4. There are common symptoms when an individual has contracted Hepatitis A. The average time it takes for these symptoms appear is twenty eight days after becoming infected, but can be as soon as two weeks. Fever, nausea, headache, loss of appetite, skin rashes, abdominal distress, dark yellow with a brown color to the urine, and jaundice are all common symptoms of having contracted HAV. Other early symptoms are also feeling weak, overly tired, and weakness in the muscles. In most cases these symptoms last less than two months, but can last up to six months. Unfortunately, there are no treatments for Hepatitis A. Once the symptoms appear, the person should rest according to how fatigues they feel, while getting adequate nutrition and fluids. Each case will differ from one individual to the next and should be treated accordingly.

5. There are steps that can be taken to prevent further outbreaks both individually and environmentally. Hepatitis A can be completely avoidable since there is a vaccine to prevent it. However, there are still people who are not vaccinated since it was not recommended that all children received it until 2006. With that, each individual if has not been vaccinated yet, should take the steps necessary to do so. Other prevention tips are to always wash our hands before and after handling food, after using the restroom, changing a diaper, helping an older child or elderly person using the restroom. Simply anything that involves human feces, wash your hands! Those at greater risk need to be vaccinated as well, such as those who travel to regions with a higher rate of HAV, those with blood clotting disorders, chronic liver disease, especially those who work in a hospital or laboratory.