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Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A information line
- HepA@flhealth.gov
- 1-844-CALL-DOH (844-225-5364)
Toll free: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus.
Transmission
The hepatitis A virus is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. The hepatitis A virus is spread primarily through the oral-fecal route, when someone ingests the virus, usually through close personal contact with an infected person or from eating contaminated food or drink.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hepatitis A usually appear 2 to 7 weeks after exposure and can include the following:- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Dark urine or light-colored stools
- Fever
- Feeling tired
- Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
Not everyone with hepatitis A has symptoms. Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children.
People who get hepatitis A may feel sick for a few weeks to several months but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage. In some people, the illness may be so severe that the person needs to be hospitalized. In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death. This is more common in older people and in people with other serious health issues, such as chronic liver disease.
Risk Factors
Although anyone can get hepatitis A, certain groups are at higher risk of getting or experiencing severe illness from hepatitis A, such as:
- International travelers
- Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
- People who use or inject drugs
- People experiencing homelessness
- People with occupational risk for exposure
Those at an Increased risk of experiencing severe illness include:
- People with chronic liver disease, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C
- Persons with HIV
Prevention
Being immunized is the best way to protect against hepatitis A.
Practicing good hand hygiene is also important to preventing the spread of hepatitis A, including thoroughly washing hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill the virus.
Vaccines against hepatitis A first became available in 1995 and led to a sharp decrease in hepatitis A cases nationally. Historically, many cases of hepatitis A in Florida have been associated with international travel.
Consistent with national trends, from 2018-20 Florida experienced a large epidemic of hepatitis A, particularly among persons who use drugs and persons experiencing homelessness.
Annual case counts for Hepatitis A in Florida, 2010-23.
In 2022, Florida experienced a slight increase in hepatitis A compared to 2021, primarily among men who have sex with men. In 2023, hepatitis A cases in Florida fell to 100 cases, the lowest level for more than a decade.
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