Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, and bacterial and viral infections can all cause hepatitis. The most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Hepatitis is also the name of a family of viral infections that affect the liver.
Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus, lasting from a few weeks to several months. Typically hepatitis A does not lead to chronic infection. Hepatitis A is most commonly transmitted from close person-to-person contact or ingestion of contaminated food or drinking water and also through ingestion of fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts.
Hepatitis A can be contracted by individuals during trips to countries with a high incidence of the disease. Hepatitis can be prevented by vaccination which is recommended for all children (starting at 1 year old), travelers to certain countries, and others due to high risk behavior.