Transmission and prevention: Hepatitis A is transmitted through the faecal-oral route by contaminated food, water or unwashed hands. Basic hand washing practices assist in curbing hepatitis A transmission. Warm, soapy, running water should be used for at least 15 seconds after going to the toilet, changing a nappy, sexual contact or any other practice involving potential contact with human faeces (NSW Health, 2005). Hands should then be thoroughly dried with disposable towels. Precautions should also be taken during sexual practices, such as using dental dams during oral-anal sex (WA Department of Health, 2005). Dental dams are available from some pharmacies, family planning clinics and sexual health clinics.

In a sewerage environment the hepatitis A virus can survive for several weeks (NSW Health, 2005). Seafood grown in contaminated water is at risk of carrying the virus. Hard and soft clams, oysters and mussels have all been implicated in outbreaks. Hepatitis A appears to be more resistant to heat than other viruses, in activating at over 85 ºC. The virus cannot grow or multiply in food, but it can survive after contact for several hours or remain on cooking utensils and surface areas for up to 30 days (NSW Food Authority, 2006).

Symptoms: Infection usually lasts only a few weeks and causes symptoms similar to other hepatitis viruses such as tiredness, loss of appetite, fever and chills, abdominal pain and jaundice. These symptoms usually occur about four weeks after infection in adults and older children. In very young children, there may not be noticeable symptoms (WA Department of Health, 2005). In most cases a person who has become infected will be unwell for up to two weeks, however fatigue may persist a little longer.

Testing and treatments: Testing is done with a simple blood test. There are not any medical treatments for hepatitis A, however bed rest, a healthy diet and plenty of fluids are recommended for a quick recovery (WA Department of Health, 2005). Hepatitis A is an acute infection and will not become a chronic (long term) infection. Some people can still work while experiencing symptoms of hepatitis A, however people working with food or drink, or in professions requiring close personal contact (such as child and health care workers), should not work for at least one week after the onset of jaundice (WA Department of Health, 2005)

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