What is the case definition for acute hepatitis A?
The clinical case definition for acute viral hepatitis is 1) discrete onset of symptoms (e.g., nausea, anorexia, fever, malaise, or abdominal pain) and 2) jaundice or elevated serum aminotransferase levels. Because the clinical characteristics are the same for all types of acute viral hepatitis, Hepatitis A diagnosis must be confirmed by a positive serologic test for immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody to Hepatitis A virus, or the case must meet the clinical case definition and occur in a person who has an epidemiologic link with a person who has laboratory-confirmed Hepatitis A (i.e., household or sexual contact with an infected person during the 15–50 days before the onset of symptoms). The case definition for acute Hepatitis A is available at the following link: Acute Hepatitis A Additional guidance on viral hepatitis surveillance and case management is available at http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/SurveillanceGuidelines.htm.
