14 Risk Factors for Getting Infected with Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a virus affecting the liver, and it’s also the most common hepatitis infection of the five types – Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Most HAV infection incubate for a period of two to seven weeks before exhibiting any symptoms in the infected individual.

When the virus does start to produce symptoms, it produces sensations of fatigue, feelings of pain, a fever, and a pain in your right side similar to the symptoms of HBV and HCV. Most hepatitis A infections clear on their own within a period of 2-months, without the need for medical intervention. In rare cases, HAV infections can progress to a chronic stage which requires medical diagnosis and treatment.

There is a set of risk factors that make an individual more prone to developing HAV. If you fall into any of the following high-risk categories, it’s best to carefully monitor your behavior to prevent infection with the hepatitis A virus.

1.    Remaining Unvaccinated

Hepatitis A is a preventable disease. Most Americans receive inoculation from hepatitis through a vaccine in their pre-adolescence. However, some people choose to forgo the vaccine, resulting in a higher risk of infection with the hepatitis virus.

There is a rising trend among new parents to avoid vaccinating their children. Conspiracy theorists cite claims of the U.S government initiating vaccine programs to infect the public with all sorts of viruses for secretive studies. When pressed for evidence, these conspiracy theorists often cite studies where the polio vaccine caused autism in children. However – there is no evidence to suggest this is true.

As a result, more people are choosing to leave their children unvaccinated to dangerous diseases, such as polio, hepatitis, and smallpox. Unvaccinated children pose a health threat to the rest of the population, as they are prime candidates for starting the next global pandemic. Vaccination from hepatitis ensures that your family never has to deal with the effects of the disease.