Hepatitis A

Where it occurs

It is common in Africa, northern and southern Asia, Central America and southern Europe. It affects over 10 million people every year.

Infection

It is caused by a virus which attacks the liver. This resides in the faeces of infected people and is usually spread through poor personal hygiene - for example, when people don’t wash their hands adequately after using the toilet.

Commonly it is transferred to food by the infected person though it may also be the case that drinking water can become contaminated with the virus - as well as being given you to drink, the water may be used in food preparation (e.g. washing salads) and so deliver the virus into the food.

Also, seafood reared in water contaminated by sewage may be infected. Although adequate cooking will destroy the virus, undercooked shellfish are a danger.

Symptoms

Many people show no symptoms at all, others have mild flu-like symptoms, but symptoms can be severe and include weakness, fatigue, headaches, loss of appetite, vomiting, stomach and diarrhoea. In the worst cases, jaundice may occur causing the skin and whites of the eye to turn yellow. Death is rare.