Hepatitis A
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Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
Hepatitis A Virus (HAV): Quick Reference Guide for Health Care Professionals
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Hepatitis A Virus (HAV): Quick Reference Guide for Health Care Professionals (PDF)
Report hepatitis A (HAV) infection (positive anti-HAV IgM) to the Minnesota Department of Health.
Etiology
- HAV is an RNA virus in the picornavirus group.
Signs and symptoms
- May be asymptomatic.
- Symptoms usually occur abruptly and may include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, or jaundice. Children are unlikely to experience symptoms.
- Symptoms generally last less than two months; occasionally, prolonged or relapsing illness can last up to six months.
- Average incubation period is 28 days (range: 15-50 days).
Long-term effects
- Chronic infection does not occur.
- HAV infection confers life-long immunity.
Transmission
- Fecal-oral transmission by:
- Person-to-person contact.
- Ingestion of contaminated food or water.
Communicability
- Two weeks before symptom onset until two weeks after symptom onset or one week after jaundice (if present).
Risk groups
- Persons who use injection and non-injection drugs.
- Persons experiencing homelessness.
- Persons who are currently or recently incarcerated.
- Men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Household contacts of infected persons.
- Sexual contacts of infected persons.
- Persons traveling to regions of the United States with high rates of HAV infection.
- Persons traveling to regions where HAV is common, including Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.
Prevention
- Hepatitis A vaccine is the best way to prevent infection.
- Hand washing with soap and water after using the bathroom or changing diapers and before preparing or eating food.
Vaccine recommendations
- Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for:
- Persons who use injection and non-injection drugs.
- Persons experiencing homelessness.
- Persons who are currently or recently incarcerated.
- Men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Household contacts of infected persons.
- Sexual contacts of infected persons.
- Persons traveling to regions of the United States with high rates of HAV infection.
- Persons traveling to regions where HAV is common, including Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.
- Persons with chronic liver disease.
- Persons with clotting-factor disorders (e.g., hemophilia).
- Anyone seeking protection from hepatitis A.
Medical management
- Supportive care.
Post-exposure management
- Hepatitis A vaccine should be administered for post-exposure prophylaxis to stop the onset of symptoms for all persons age 12 months and older exposed within the previous 2 weeks.
- In addition to hepatitis A vaccine, Immune Globulin (IG) may be administered to persons age 40 years and older depending on the extent of exposure and immunocompetence of the exposed individual.
- For children under 12 months of age, immune globulin (IG) may be given in persons exposed within the previous two weeks.
Last Updated: 10/20/2022