Hepatitis A Case Confirmed At Passaic High School

PASSAIC, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A case of hepatitis A has been confirmed at Passaic High School, and school district officials were warning parents to look out for symptoms as a precaution.

Passaic and New Jersey state officials believe it is unlikely that the disease will spread and any other children will become ill, but Passaic Public Schools supervisor of health services Edward Rowbotham advised parents to be aware of the symptoms and how the disease spreads.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver, and is shed in the stool of an infected person. People contract the virus by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the hepatitis A virus, or having direct contact with someone with poor personal hygiene.

An infected person might display a range of symptoms, including fever, fatigue, poor appetite, vomiting or abdominal discomfort, dark-colored urine, clay-colored feces, and jaundice – a yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

Young children with hepatitis A usually do not display any symptoms at all, but could still spread the infection to close household contacts by sharing food and utensils, the school district said.

No specific medications are indicated for treatment of hepatitis A, but those who catch it usually recover within a few weeks, the school district said.

The best solution is to practice good hygiene and keep hands washed, the district said.

Anyone in the district looking for more information on hepatitis A, or who thinks he or she might be infected, is advised to call Health Officer John Biegeo of the Passaic Health Department, at (973) 365-5603.

More information is also available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.