Hepatitis A is an acute liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) that typically lasts a few weeks. It is transmitted through contaminated food or water, or close personal contact with an infected individual. While it does not cause chronic infection, it can occasionally lead to liver complications. The hepatitis A virus is a spherical particle containing RNA. Diagnosis involves detecting antibodies produced against HAV. There is no antiviral treatment, but vaccination and immune globulin can prevent infection.

1. Helyn Jane A. Domingo
BsPharmacy-3
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2. Hepatitis A
It is an acute liver disease caused by the
hepatitis A virus(HAV).
lasting from a few weeks to several months
The most famous sign of Hepatitis is Jaundice
 It does not lead to chronic infection.
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3. Nature of HAV virus
HAV is a 27 – 30 nm
spherical particle with
cubic symmetry
Contain linear single
stranded RNA genome
with size of 7.5 kb.
Only one serotype
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4. HAV characteristics
HAV are stable to treatment with 20% ether acid
The virus are destroyed by: autoclaving at 1210c
Treatment with chlorine 1 ppm
Heating food > 850c
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5. Epidemiology
A major communicable disease in the developing
world.
Well cooked food and sanitary water supply will
protect the individual living.
Community hygiene is important in schools, hostels
and jails, as overcrowding and poor sanitation favor
the spread.
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6. SYMPTOMS
Fatigue
Fever
Sore muscles
Headache
Nausea
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7. SYMPTOMS
Pain on the right side of the body
Yellowing of the skin and eyes
Dark urine
Diarrhea
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9. Hepatitis A Virus Transmission
Close personal contact
Contaminated food or water
Blood exposure
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10. Pathogenesis
HAV invade into human body by mouth and
cause viremia.
After one week, the HAV reach liver cells
replicate within.
Then enter intestine with bile and appear in
feces.
After HAV replicating and discharging, liver cells
damage begin
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11. DIAGNOSIS
Doctors usually need a blood test to diagnose hepatitis
A
 though, they can also use a combination of signs,
symptoms and known exposure to someone who has
hepatitis A.
When the hepatitis A virus infects a liver, the body's
immune system begins producing special antibodies
called HAV IgM
The body also produces another type of antibody, HAV
IgG, which appears much later in the infection.
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12. MANAGEMENT
Hepatitis A is a self-limited infection and
does not cause chronic disease. This means
that the body's immune system will clear
itself of the infection, usually in a couple of
weeks. Medical care is usually limited to
education about the disease and relieving
discomfort from symptoms. However, in rare
cases, complications might develop from
hepatitis A infection and will require further
medical care.
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13. Clinical Manifestations
Incubation period 2 – 6 weeks
May be asymptomatic
Overt illness in 5%
Present as two stages:
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2
Preicteric
Icteric
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14. Treatment
No specific antiviral drug is available
Treatment is symptomatic
Specific passive prophylaxis by pooled normal
human immunoglobulin given before exposure
or in early incubation period can prevent or
attenuate clinical illness.
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15. Clinical Complications

Complications:
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Chronic sequel:
-Fulminant hepatitis
-Cholestatic hepatitis
-Relapsing hepatitis
None
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16. Vaccination for HAV
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all children
starting at age 1 year, travellers to certain countries, and
others at risk.
A safe and effective formalin inactivated alum conjugated
vaccine containing HAV grown in human diploid cell
culture is available
A full course containing two intramuscular injections of
the vaccine
Protection starts after 4 weeks after injection and lasts for
10 – 20 years
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17. Vaccination Strategies
Epidemiologic Considerations
Many cases occur in community-wide
outbreaks
no risk factor identified for most cases
 highest attack rates in 5-14 year olds
 children serve as reservoir of infection
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Persons at increased risk of infection
travelers
homosexual men
injecting drug users
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18. Hepatitis A Prevention – Immune Globulin
Pre-exposure
travelers to intermediate and high
HAV-endemic regions
Post-exposure (within 14 days)
Routine
household and other intimate contacts
institutions
common source exposure
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19. Preventing Hepatitis A
Hygiene
Sanitation
Hepatitis A vaccine
Immune globulin
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