Question
This is from the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/fact.htm.
CLINICAL
FEATURES Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, diarrhea
ETIOLOGIC
AGENT Hepatitis A virus
INCIDENCE Estimated 125,00-200,000 total infections/yr in United States
84,000-134,000 symptomatic infections/yr
100 deaths due to fulminant hepatitis/yr
SEQUELAE Prolonged or relapsing hepatitis (15%)
No chronic infection
PREVALENCE 33% of Americans have evidence of past infection (immunity)
COSTS Estimated $200 million (1991 dollars)/yr (medical and work loss)
TRANSMISSION Fecal-oral; food/waterborne outbreaks; bloodborne (rare)
RISK GROUPS Household/sexual contacts of infected persons;
International travelers;
Persons living in American Indian reservations, Alaska Native villages, and other regions with endemic hepatitis A;
During outbreaks: day care center employees or attendees, homosexually active men, injecting drug users
SURVEILLANCE National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System
Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Program
Sentinel Counties Studies
TRENDS Large nationwide outbreaks every decade (last in 1989)
Cases increasing slightly during past several years
PREVENTION Hepatitis A vaccine is highly effective in preventing hepatitis A and provides the potential to have a substantial impact on the disease burden;
Immune globulin administered pre- and postexposure;
Good hygiene and sanitation
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Betterhave
Answer
More info:
Curious person that I am, I just called that number Retread lists. It is Hepititis A. The nurse says that within 14 days of having eaten there, there is a preventative shot you can get from any health dept, whether you see symptoms yet or not.
Beyond that, the symptoms can appear anywhere from 2- 7 weeks after exposure and anyone with those symptoms should see their doctor.
Symptoms are listed above in the information I copied from the CDC website, but the nurse said that the biggest clues to watch for are being excessively tired and loss of appettite. For smokers, she notes that they will even lose the urge to smoke. Other symptoms that are a dead give away are dark brown urine and / or pale, almost colorless bowel movements. You might have some or all of the symptoms.
You'll notice that some of the symptoms are rather flu-like in nature and so if you ate there and you experience those within the 2 to 7 week period, best pay attention and see your doctor or contact a health department wherever you are.
Our local health department says that the shot for someone known to have been exposed is called the "IG" and must be given within two weeks of the exposure and at this health dept is provided free if someone knows they were exposed.
A second vaccine is available for long-term prevention, is given in a series of two shots and is kind of costly because it is new. Their price was $60.
Hope this is helpful.
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Betterhave