Is a patient with Hepatitis A contagious before and after signs and symptoms?

• A. Sometimes
• B. Not enough information to tell
• C. False
• D. True

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that Hepatitis A can be contagious even before people notice symptoms and continues to be contagious after symptoms appear. HAV is shed in the stool starting in the incubation period, so an infected person can spread the virus before they have any signs. Once symptoms appear, the virus remains present in the stool for about a week after the onset of jaundice (and can be shed for a bit longer in some cases). Because of this ongoing fecal-oral shedding, a patient can transmit HAV both before and after their signs and symptoms begin. That’s why the statement is true. Remember to emphasize strict hand hygiene and infection prevention during the contagious period.