HAV
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Hepatitis A virus |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
HAV stands for Hepatitis A virus, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Virus spread by the fecal-oral route through contaminated food, water or close contact, causing acute hepatitis with fever, nausea and jaundice. Unlike hepatitis B and C it never becomes chronic, and illness is usually more severe in adults than in young children.
Example: Restaurant worker with HAV IgM positive; health department notified, contacts offered vaccine within 2 weeks.
Usage notes
A safe, highly effective vaccine has been available in the US since 1995 and is routine for children at age one. Large US outbreaks from 2016 onward spread mainly among people experiencing homelessness or who use drugs. Post-exposure vaccination within two weeks can prevent infection. Diagnosis is by IgM antibody.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- GNR – Gram-negative rods
- GPC – Gram-positive cocci
- H1N1 – Influenza A virus subtype H1N1
- H5N1 – Influenza A virus subtype H5N1
- HAART – Highly active antiretroviral therapy
- HAP – Hospital-acquired pneumonia
- HBsAg – Hepatitis B surface antigen
- HBV – Hepatitis B virus
- HCV – Hepatitis C virus
- HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus
- hMPV – Human metapneumovirus
- HPV – Human papillomavirus
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.