Hepatitis A: What Causes It?

Pathogenesis (disease development)

Hepatitis A virus is transmitted primarily through contaminated food. It nests in the liver and then replicates only there. The severity of the disease depends primarily on the body’s immune response. In most cases, however, hepatitis A infection is benign.

Etiology (causes)

Biographic causes

  • Occupations – workers in the food and hospitality industry, in nursing occupations, of sanitation facilities, educators, and medical professionals.
  • Geographic factors – living in the high prevalence area (Southeast Asia, Russia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Africa, Central and South America).

Behavioral causes

  • Nutrition
    • Consumption of contaminated food
  • Sexual transmission
    • Promiscuity (sexual contact with relatively frequently changing different partners or with parallel multiple partners) (very rare).
    • Prostitution (very rare)
    • Men who have sex with men (MSM).
    • Unprotected coitus (very rare).
  • Close physical contact – especially in kindergarten or in the common household.
  • Use of contaminated objects

Other causes

  • Transmission of blood products