It has been reported that a Hepatitis A outbreak may be imminent in the L.A. City School District. This should not come as a surprise since in the U.S. alone, Hepatitis A is so widespread that an estimated 143,000 new cases occur each year, with an average of 30 days of work lost due to this illness and at a cost of $200 million annually.
Hepatitis A, one of the most common infections of the liver, is caused by a virus. It may be acquired through ingestion of contaminated food, close personal contact such as sharing eating utensils, and especially poor hygienic habits, such as lack of hand washing after using toilet facilities and before eating.
People acquiring the infection may have no symptoms, a mild "flu-like" illness, or more severe illness resulting in hospitalization. Although rarely fatal, the acute stage of the disease lasts up to several weeks and can be quite debilitating. People may develop fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and joint or muscle aches. They may also notice a yellow tinge to their skin and eyes, a dark colonization of their urine, and lightening of the stool color to beige. On examination, a physician might find an enlarged liver and abnormal blood tests.
It may take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months (average one month) after exposure to develop symptoms (enough time to forget about possibly being exposed or exposing others). Even though no symptoms have appeared, infection can be spread to family and close contacts. An alarming fact is that there is no specific treatment for acute Hepatitis infection. No medicine will cure it. Treatment is directed only at comfort care. And it may take several weeks to many months to fully recover.
Any non-immune person exposed to the virus can develop Hepatitis A. In the U.S., two of the greatest risk groups are children, because of their close interactive habits and tendency for lesser hand washing, and travelers visiting developing countries where Hepatitis is common. Travelers contract Hepatitis A by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food.
Those exposed are advised to get "gamma globulin" shots to protect them against developing full-blown Hepatitis A. This may prevent or at least lessen the severity of the illness.
In addition, a recently marketed vaccine can prevent acquiring this infection and consequently the disease. However, it must be given several weeks before exposure to be effective. An initial vaccination can protect you for up to one year. A booster dose given 6-12 months later can protect for many years. The Hepatitis A vaccine is produced from strains of the Hepatitis A viruses which have been inactivated/killed. Not only is the vaccine effective, it is quite safe, having been tested in world-wide trials in tens of thousands of people in over 40 countries. The most common side effects are local swelling and redness at the injection site for 1-2 days. Less often, some people feel tired, dizzy, nauseated, feverish, achy, or have a headache. (Those receiving the vaccine should check with their doctor to make sure there is no allergy to any component of the vaccine that may cause an "allergic reaction."
If you believe that you might have been exposed to Hepatitis A, consult your physician and be aware of the possible symptoms.