Final answer:
Hepatitis A is typically transmitted via contaminated food or water, or close contact, leading to symptoms like malaise, nausea, and abdominal pain. It is generally mild and self-limiting, with a severe form rare. Vaccination and good hygiene are key prevention measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hepatitis A: Source, Symptoms, and Prevention
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, often via contaminated food or water. It can also spread through close personal contact. After an incubation period of approximately 15 to 50 days, individuals may experience symptoms such as malaise, loss of appetite, dark urine, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, joint pain, and gray stool. These symptoms are due to the virus targeting liver cells, leading to inflammation and potentially liver disease. Hepatitis A is normally a mild or asymptomatic illness that is self-limiting, resolving within weeks to months, but a severe form, fulminant hepatitis, can occur.
Prevention measures include vaccination, which is particularly recommended for young children, travelers to areas with higher incidence, individuals with liver disease, and drug users. Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can also help prevent the spread of hepatitis A.