Does one always get sick, when infected? No.
How long is the incubation period?
After initial infection, it normally takes two to
six weeks before one gets sick.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms can vary from fatigue, fever, muscle- and joint pains to nausea and
abdominal pains. The illness can also produce
colour changes in eyes, skin, urine, (tea colour)
and faeces (pale colour).
Is hepatitis A curable?
Yes, but not with medicine. After a few months,
hepatitis A disappears by itself. If someone has
been sick with hepatitis A once, he/she is
immune for the rest of his/her life.
How can catching hepatitis A be prevented?
The golden rule is, good personal hygiene. Handwashing after visits to the toilet and before
eating or preparing food. There are also shots
against hepatitis A. A safe and effective vaccine
against hepatitis A has been available for many
years.
How do we become infected?
Through contaminated food and water. The
dazzling blue ocean water near a fivestar hotel
could be contaminated due to an open sewer
nearby. The exquisite dinner in the same hotel
could be contaminated because the cook has not
washed his hands after a visit to the toilet.
The virus can also be transmitted throug sexual
contact, namely oral anal sex. During licking
of the anus, little particles of faeces could get
into the mouth.
Risk factors
* Sharing unhygienic sanitary facilities
* Oral anal sex