Hepatitis A 2023

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. People who get hepatitis A don’t always have symptoms, but those who do may experience symptoms such as jaundice, stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea for a few weeks or months. Most people recover completely from hepatitis A and do not have lasting liver damage. 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.

Hepatitis A is highly contagious virus found in an infected person’s blood or feces. Most often, it is spread through close personal contact, such as through certain types of sexual contact, caring for someone who is ill, or using drugs with others. Although uncommon in the United States, hepatitis A can also spread by eating contaminated food.1

Hepatitis A usually goes away on its own. Most doctors advise people with hepatitis A to rest, get adequate nutrition, and drink plenty of fluids. In severe cases, patients may have to receive medical care at the hospital.

Hepatitis A Infection

Cases of hepatitis A are rare in the United States. According to CDC, there were a total of 2,265 hepatitis A cases reported in 2022 nationwide.1 However, because not everyone has symptoms or gets diagnosed, the actual number of cases occurring in that year was probably closer to 4,500.1 Reported cases in the US decreased from 5,728 cases in 2021 to 2,265 cases in 2022, with outbreaks occurring most often among people who use injection drugs or experience homelessness.1

Allegheny County saw the highest number of hepatitis A cases in 2018, when 17 cases were reported, but since then the number of cases has been low. In 2023, there were only three reported cases in Allegheny County (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Reported confirmed hepatitis A infections by year, Allegheny County, 2013-2023
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Prevention

The best way to prevent hepatitis A is by getting vaccinated. While childhood vaccination against hepatitis A has been routine since 2006, many adults have not received the vaccine and may be at risk for severe disease. Although hepatitis A is very contagious, you can take the following steps to prevent infection:

  • Get vaccinated against hepatitis A
  • Wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing, serving or eating food
  • Don’t share food, drinks, or smoking products with other people
  • Avoid eating raw oysters
  • Do not share towels, toothbrushes and eating utensils
  • Don’t have oral-anal sex with someone who has hepatitis A

Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/pdfs/hepageneralfactsheet.pdf

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A Surveillance 2022.  https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/statistics/2022surveillance/hepatitis-a.htm   November 2024.
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