Hepatitis A virus (HAV) | For online medical treatment in Yokohama City, first go to the online clinic | Blog

It is a temporary infection caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV).

It was common in Japan 50 years ago, but now it's almost gone because the sanitary environment has improved. Therefore, it is normal for elderly people to have antibodies, but people under the age of 50 have almost no antibodies.

Once infected, there is an incubation period of 2 to 6 weeks (on average about 4 weeks), followed by fever, general malaise, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, dark colored urine, and white stools. Symptoms are seen. Some may become fulminant and die.

[Cause of infection]

・Direct person-to-person contact

・Contaminated water and ice

・Contaminated fruits and raw vegetables

・Seafood caught in polluted waters The virus is excreted in the stool and can be transmitted by eating food contaminated with the virus.

You can become infected by eating food from the hands of someone who has the virus or by eating raw seafood that naturally contains the hepatitis A virus.

People who are planning to live overseas (India, Africa, Southeast Asia, etc. are said to have a higher risk of hepatitis A.) It is said that for those who travel for long-term work, the risk of infection is higher if they are vaccinated than not, and the severity of the illness is less likely even if they become infected.

Vaccinations are generally given three times over six months, but if you have limited time, please consult with a medical institution (doctor) and consider hepatitis A vaccination after an examination. What do you think.