By Yun Suh-young
Hepatitis A is most prevalent among people in their 20s and 30s, according to data from the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention published Friday.
The statistics show that 5,521 cases of hepatitis A occurred last year.
The center said that 2,443, or 44.2 percent, of the cases reported were among those in their 30s, while 1,753, or 31.8 percent, of them were among those in their 20s.
The combination of the two age groups stood at 76 percent.
As for this year, the numbers of hepatitis A patients have reduced significantly to 872. About one fifth of last year’s numbers are estimated at 4,287. Active promotion to prevent the disease is known to have played a big role.
The communicable disease is spread usually through food during the summer period. It may be transmitted when a person cooks food without properly washing their hands or through physical contact with the patient.
“Because hepatitis A is spread mostly during June and July, it is important to wash hands frequently to prevent the spread of disease and infection. When traveling whether here or abroad, try to avoid eating raw food and eat cooked food,” said an official from the center.
“Especially teenagers people older up to those in their 30s who have liver disease, they must pay extra attention when abroad for prolonged periods. Children are recommended to receive vaccination for the disease.”
Those who acquire hepatitis A show symptoms such as high temperature, ennui, lack of appetite, stomach ache, thick urine, and jaundice after a 30-day latent period. The symptoms, however, for children under the age of six are less conspicuous because 70 percent of them acquire undetected infections.
The preventive warning comes because today marks the second World Hepatitis Day designated by the World Health Organization last year on July 28.