Respiratory Virus and Measles Information

Causes and Diagnoses

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) causes hepatitis A infection. It is most commonly spread through contact with contaminated stool. That may occur when:

You eat food prepared by an infected person who doesn’t wash his or her hands after using the bathroom.
You don’t wash your hands properly after changing the diaper of someone who has the infection.
You have close contact or sex with someone who has the infection.
You drink contaminated water or eat food that’s rinsed in contaminated water.

Hepatitis A is not spread through nasal or respiratory secretions, breast milk or casual contact.

Hepatitis A is diagnosed based on your symptoms and a blood test that looks for the hepatitis A virus antibodies.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is sometimes called a traveler's disease, but you can also get infected with hepatitis A in the United States.

Hepatitis A (HAV) Infection

The hepatitis A virus most often spreads through infected food or water that has been contaminated by infected stool.