HEPATITIS A

Course overview

THE HEPATITIS A VIRUS (HAV) IS A POSITIVE-SENSE, SINGLE-STRANDED RNA VIRUS THAT BELONGS TO THE FAMILY PICORNAVIRIDAE. IT REPLICATES PRIMARILY WITHIN HEPATOCYTES AND IS A COMMON INFECTIOUS ETIOLOGY OF ACUTE HEPATITIS WORLDWIDE. SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE INFECTION INCLUDE NAUSEA, VOMITING, FATIGUE, MALAISE, ABDOMINAL PAIN, POOR APPETITE, AND FEVER. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF HEPATITIS A AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.