hepatitis A virus

Hepatitis A, caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), is the most common worldwide. It is considered an acute infection and does not give rise to chronic hepatitis. Its onset usually occurs 15 to 45 days after exposure to the virus, and some infected individuals, especially children, exhibit no clinical…

The hepatitis A virus is transmitted almost exclusively via the fecal–oral route, and it thrives in areas where sanitation and food handling are poor and hand washing is infrequent. HAV proliferates in the intestinal tract during the two weeks following the onset of symptoms, but it…

Hepatitis A is caused by a picornavirus usually transmitted by the fecal-oral route in a manner similar to that of poliovirus. Hepatitis B is caused by a small DNA virus that contains its own DNA polymerase and is transmitted by transfusion of blood and other…