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Hepatitis A in Children

In hepatitis A, the inflammation is caused by a specific virus, the Hepatitis A virus often abbreviated to HAV.

A virus is a very small infectious particle. Hepatitis A is sometimes called infectious or epidemic hepatitis. The Hepatitis A virus causes an acute inflammation of the liver with varying degrees of liver cell damage.

How is hepatitis A spread?

Infection with hepatitis A is a form of food poisoning. Risk foods include shellfish such a prawns, cockles, mussels and oysters which carry a much higher risk as they are eaten raw. These foods may be infected at source by the farming waters being contaminated with untreated sewage or later by infected food handlers.

Once infection is established, the virus is carried in the digestive system and excreted in the stools. If there is then poor hand washing in infected individuals, the virus can be passed on by the hands to other individuals. Therefore, hepatitis A infection is more common in areas of poor sanitation and overcrowding. Outbreaks can occur particularly in nurseries and schools.

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