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Posttravel hepatitis A: probable acquisition from an asymptomatic adopted child
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. mary_wilson@harvard.edu
Insights
Adoptive parents may contract hepatitis A from adopted children who show no symptoms. Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended for prospective adoptive parents due to infection risks during travel and from children.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis A is a viral infection affecting the liver.
- Adoptive parents may face unique exposure risks.
- Asymptomatic infections can facilitate disease transmission.
Observation:
- A case of acute hepatitis A occurred in an adoptive parent.
- The infection was likely transmitted from a recently adopted child.
- The child had an asymptomatic, active hepatitis A infection.
Findings:
- Hepatitis A can be transmitted from asymptomatic children to adoptive parents.
- Unrecognized infections in adopted children pose a significant risk.
- Parental vaccination is crucial for preventing hepatitis A.
Implications:
- Prospective adoptive parents should be screened and vaccinated for hepatitis A.
- Awareness of hepatitis A transmission risks is vital for adoptive families.
- Public health strategies should consider vaccination for individuals in high-risk groups, including adoptive parents.
Abstract:
We report a case of acute hepatitis A in an adoptive parent that was probably acquired from a recently adopted child with asymptomatic, active infection. Prospective adoptive parents should be protected against hepatitis A because of potential exposure during travel and the risk of unrecognized active infection in adopted children.
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