Symptoms, which may include fever, loss of appetite, nausea and jaundice, commonly last for about four weeks. However, an infected person can have a relapse of the disease, which may continue on and off for up to 15 months. The virus often is a result of poor hygiene, such as failing to wash hands after using the bathroom or after changing a baby's diaper.
Children can be asymptomatic transmitters of the disease.
But the disease is prevalent in the United States, too. There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A, but some of the symptoms can be eased by rest and proper nutrition. Unlike higher forms of hepatitis, the A strain is rarely life-threatening. A booster shot 6 to 12 months after the initial vaccination will prolong protection. People can also protect themselves by frequently washing their hands in warm, soapy water.