Hepatitis B

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nds after using the toilet and then handle food, or when a person changes an infected infant’s diapers and then handles food before washing his or her hands. People who eat this contaminated food run a high risk of becoming infected. The virus also spreads when drinking water is contaminated with raw sewage. When people use contaminated water for drinking, as ice, or to wash fruits or vegetables, they run the risk of contracting HAV. Eating raw or partially cooked shellfish harvested from water contaminated with raw sewage can also lead to HAV infection.
EFFECT:

Experts estimate that roughly 125,000 to 200,000 cases of hepatitis A infections occur in the United States each year. Individuals with hepatitis A can spread the disease to others as early as two weeks before symptoms appear. In addition to the general hepatitis symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue, and jaundice, hepatitis A may also cause diarrhea. There is no treatment for hepatitis A. Most people will recover on their own without any serious aftereffects, although a ...