2 high school students diagnosed with Hepatitis A virus

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2 high school students diagnosed with Hepatitis A virus

April 19, 2007

CONCORD, N.H. --Two Milford High School students were recently diagnosed with Hepatitis A, virus the state Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday in a letter sent to parents.

The letter said it's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of an infection,which include an abrupt fever, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark colored and urine and/or clay-colored stools, and jaundice.

In general, illness is not severe and those who are infected recover fully, Montero, the state epidemiologist, said in the letter. Older children and adults may have symptoms that usually last several weeks.

The virus is contagious two weeks before symptoms start, until one week after they are resolved. Immunoglobulin is given within two weeks of exposure can prevent the disease from developing if exposed.

"For the two cases identified to us from Milford High School, it has been more than two weeks; therefore IG will not be effective in this situation," the letter said. "However, it is important to have a heightened awareness and knowledge of general information on HAV in order to identify any further cases."

The letter said at the time, "we are aware of some students with illness often referred to as 'stomach flu,' which is caused by a group of viruses called noroviruses. The most common symptoms of norovirus are nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea and the illness generally resolves in one-two days."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/04/19/2_high_school_students_diagnosed_with_hepatitis_a_virus/