Epidemiology:
• Hepatitis A virus is transmitted from fecal to oral. The incubation period is 15-50 (average 30) days.
• The first antibody detected in the blood is anti HAV IgM. It occurs 2-3 days after the symptoms, peaking in 2-3 weeks.
• Fecal contagion ends with the appearance of symptoms.
Acute hepatitis A infection is usually a self-limiting and life-long immune-containing infection.
Clinic:
• Cholestatic hepatitis is more common than other viral hepatitis.
• Fulminant hepatitis is rare, but the risk of fulminant increases with age of infection.
• Hepatitis A does not become chronic, but recurrent hepatitis can be seen in the clinical course.
Treatment: It is supportive treatment.
Protection:
• Vaccine:
It is administered in 2 doses at least 6 months apart.
In healthy people between the ages of 2-40, only vaccination is sufficient after exposure.
Protection begins 2-4 weeks after vaccination.
• Human serum immunoglobulin:
Can be done within the first 2 weeks after contact
It is recommended for those under 2 years old, over 40 years old, immunosuppressed and those with chronic liver disease.