Hepatitis A

epatitis A is one of the world’s most common viral infections. Although most patients recover within two months, the disease can produce significant morbidity, which can be largely prevented with appropriate immunization strategies. Epidemiology Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an enveloped RNA agent classified as a picornavirus that can produce symptomatic or asymptom-atic infection in humans. It is the cause of approximately one-half of all reported cases of viral hepatitis in the United States, although the prevalence of HAV infection