Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A, abbreviated as hepatitis A, is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), primarily characterized by inflammatory lesions of the liver. It is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Clinically, the main manifestations include fatigue, loss of appetite, hepatomegaly, and abnormal liver function. Some cases present with jaundice, mainly manifesting as acute hepatitis, and asymptomatic infections are common. This disease can occur at any age, but mainly affects children and adolescents. The clinical symptoms of adult hepatitis A are generally more severe than those in children. Winter and spring are often the peak seasons for hepatitis A incidence. The course of this disease is self-limiting and does not become chronic; acute severe hepatitis is extremely rare. With the worldwide use of inactivated vaccines, the epidemic of hepatitis A has been effectively controlled.