Which type of hepatitis is transmitted by fecal-oral exposure, often from contaminated food?

• A. Hepatitis B
• B. Hepatitis A
• C. Hepatitis C
• D. Hepatitis D

Answer: (B)

Hepatitis A is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, often from contaminated food or water. This pattern comes from the virus being shed in stool and ingested through mouth, which can happen with poor hand hygiene, improper food handling, or contaminated sources like shellfish from polluted waters. HAV typically causes an acute, self-limited illness and does not lead to chronic infection. Prevention hinges on hygiene and vaccination, with the HAV vaccine providing effective protection.

In contrast, Hepatitis B and D spread mainly through blood and body fluids (for example, sexual contact or sharing needles), with Hepatitis D requiring Hepatitis B to infect a person. Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through blood. These routes are not aligned with the common fecal-oral exposure described in the prompt, which is why Hepatitis A is the best answer.