Preventive treatment is only effective when administered within 14 days of an exposure to hepatitis A, and, consequently such treatment is not recommended for persons who were exposed to hepatitis A in September. Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. Early symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal cramps, and fever. Subsequently, dark yellow or brown urine, pale or white bowel movements, and yellow skin or eyes can develop. Persons can have some or all of these symptoms.
Adults tend to have more symptoms than do children.
Hepatitis A virus lives in the stool of an infected person and must enter another person's mouth to spread the infection. The usual way this happens is when unclean hands handle food or other objects that are swallowed. Thorough hand washing after toileting and before handling food can prevent transmission of infection. Hepatitis A can be prevented in adults and children 2 years of age or older through vaccination. Although hepatitis A vaccination will not protect people from an exposure that has already occurred, persons who have not had hepatitis A can be protected from future infection by receiving the vaccine.