The disease is contagious and it travels in feces, can be spread from person to person, or be found in food or water. Contaminated food often happens when food preparers do not take necessary precautions when handling food, such as washing their hands after using the bathroom.
It’s tricky to diagnose because the symptoms of Hepatitis A can be confused with other minor aches, such as muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite, stomach pain, fever, weakness and fatigue. Plus only 70% of patients get jaundice (the yellowing of the skin and eyes), which is also associated with other types of Hepatitis.
Those that have the virus can suffer from liver problems, because the virus can kill a high number of liver cells, which can cause the liver to stop functioning. In fact 50% of patients with fulminant Hepatitis A will need an immediate liver transplant to avoid death.
Hepatitis is preventable, and there is a vaccine, but unfortunately many people are not vaccinated. Especially since the vaccine became recommended for all children just 10 years ago.
