Health

Health

Hepatitis A is a communicable viral liver disease. A recent outbreak of Hepatitis A has recently occurred across five states. For this reason this paper will describe the disease, its treatment and prevention; the factors that contribute to its spread; how personal lifestyles, including that of socioeconomic status influence the disease and the control of the disease. If there are gaps and resources available to fill these gaps will be discussed along with alternatives and recommendations for prevention and/or reduction in the spread of Hepatitis A. Within this document the goal will be to include data supporting the findings and plans to ensure continuation of quality of health and quality of life.
Description
Hepatitis A is an extremely contagious viral disease that attacks the liver and can cause mild to severe illness. The infection will cause the liver to decline in its functional use. Hepatitis A is “most likely to (be) contract(ed) from contaminated food or water or from close contact with someone who’s already infected” (Mayo Clinic, 2013). Contaminated food and/or water usually has had contact with human fecal matter via ingestion or contact with a contaminated object or person.
Many who have contacted Hepatitis A may not even realize they have contracted the disease. The symptoms range from mild to severe and can include any of the following: jaundice, fatigue, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and fever. These symptoms will come and go over a course of a six to nine month period. While most cases tend to be mild in manner there are those that can turn to severe infectious Hepatitis A, which will cause acute liver failure. The disease tends to affect more adults than children and usually will not affect (cause illness) to those under the age of six, however, those children can spread the disease (National Vaccine Information Center, 2013).
Environmental Factors and its Influence
Hepatitis A is found to be associated with poor sanitation, hygiene,...

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