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Answer 60
Hepatitis A
False a. the virus has double stranded DNA
True b. the incubation period is 2-6 weeks
True c. the illness is milder in young people
False d. is maximally infectious at the peak of jaundice
True e. can be prevented by active immunisation
Hepatitis A is a single stranded RNA virus.
In children the illness may be very mild. Clinical jaundice might not occur.
The infectious period is from 2 weeks before the onset of jaundice until 1 week after. The most infectious time is just before onset of jaundice.
Hepatitis A is usually acquired by consumption of faecally contaminated food or water. Other gastrointestinal pathogens may be acquired from the same source. Many patients recall having had diarrhoea a few weeks before their jaundice and upto 15% have other pathogens isolated from the stool.
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