Hepatitis A Vaccination

The hepatitis A virus causes inflammation of the liver. It is contracted through water and food contaminated with faeces or by person-to-person contact. Most people recover from hepatitis within a few months, but the symptoms may come and go for six months.

Symptoms of hepatitis A

Hepatitis symptoms include a gastro-intestinal upset accompanied by a mild fever. There may be vomiting and diarrhoea or constipation and abdominal pain, too. Jaundice, a yellow discolouration of the skin and the eyes, is another symptom. The symptoms often do not develop for about a month after infection.

Hepatitis A does in some cases result in liver failure and if you experience the following symptoms, get immediate medical advice:

• sudden vomiting
• nosebleeds or bleeding gums or a tendency to bruise easily
• drowsiness, irritability and memory problems

Countries where you can catch hepatitis A

There is a worldwide risk of hepatitis A, though it is more common in:

• North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
• Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan
• East Asia
• the Middle East
• South and Central America

Am I at risk from hepatitis A?

Travellers at particular risk of contracting hepatitis A include men who have sex with men, people who inject recreational drugs, anyone planning to work with monkeys, apes or primates and people who will be working among groups with poor hygiene.

How to avoid catching hepatitis A

Apart from the getting vaccinated against hepatitis A, there are a few other steps you can take to avoid infection.

Watch what you eat

Hepatitis A occurs where sanitation is poor and can be picked up from contaminated food (shellfish is a common source of infection). Eating raw and undercooked food increases your risk of exposure and hot cooked food is a better choice. Fruit should be peeled, and salads avoided as it is hard to get them properly clean. Make sure you pick clean, good quality places to eat. Kitchen staff who are infected with hep A or who wash their hands in contaminated water can spread the virus to diners.

Think before you drink

Contaminated water is another source of hepatitis A infection. Choose water from sealed bottles, or water that has been treated. Avoid ice, as freezing will not kill the hepatitis A virus and you can never guarantee what water has been used to make ice.

Clean hands

Also take extra care with personal hygiene and hand washing, particularly before cooking and eating and using the toilet.

For more tips on avoiding hepatitis A and other GI illnesses, see our blogpost.