Hepatitis A

acute affecting the liver; a small RNA virus, called HAV (or hepatitis A virus), is responsible for this.

Shutterstock

The infection occurs through the consumption of contaminated food and drinks or through direct contact with infected people. The hepatitis A virus replicates in the liver and is excreted externally via the faeces. For this reason, the prevention of hepatitis A is based on the adoption of basic hygiene rules, such as washing hands often, cleaning food and cooking them generously before consumption. For the most exposed people, such as those who go on vacation to countries at risk, active or passive immunization is still recommended. In the presence of a mild infection, the disease resolves spontaneously even in the absence of medical treatment.

, which attacks the liver cells and damages them. This liver infection is contracted by the fecal-oral route, mainly through contact with other infected people or the ingestion of contaminated water and food.