Hepatitis A (HAV) is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus.
TRANSMISSION
OF THE DISEASE
People with Hepatitis A can spread the virus to others if they do not wash their hands after having a bowel movement, after changing the diapers of an infected baby, before preparing food for others, or through other hand/mouth contacts.
Eating raw or undercooked food and shellfish, or drinking water contaminated by animal or human waste are often sources of the virus. This disease can also be spread by practising unsafe sex or through the use of illegal drugs by using dirty needles.
SYMPTOMS
After exposure to the hepatitis virus, it can take from fifteen to fifty days before feeling sick. The symptoms can be so mild that many people are not aware that they have the disease. The symptoms may last from one or two weeks to several months. The symptoms include loss of appetite, fever, dark urine, fatigue, vomiting, clay-colored stools, a sore feeling in the upper-right stomach area, and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
The disease is usually mild and then gives lifelong immunity. Death can occur, but it is rare. It is important to see a doctor when symptoms develop; a blood test is necessary to diagnose hepatitis A.
TREATMENT
There is no treatment for hepatitis A as it is a viral infection.
People who have been infected should stay home and rest until they feel better. It is recommended to avoid alcohol for several months to give the liver the best chance to recover completely.
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A, but supportive treatment is given to address the symptoms. Full recovery is common. Hepatitis A infection confers lifelong immunity in individuals who have been infected.
AVOIDING HEPATITIS A
The BC Ministry of Health recommends protecting yourself against hepatitis A and other germs by always washing your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, before preparing meals, and before eating. Also it is recommended to not share food, drinks or cigarettes. People suffering from hepatitis A should avoid preparing food for others.
In case of a close contact with someone who has hepatitis A, it is possible to prevent the disease by getting one shot of hepatitis A vaccine. The time frame for the vaccine to work is within fourteen days of the contact with the ill person. If you have already had one dose of vaccine more than 6 months before a contact with someone suffering from hepatitis A, you will be given another dose of the vaccine.
Infants under six months of age, persons who have a weakened immune response, and those for whom vaccine is not recommended should receive an Immune Globulin (IG) as an alternative to hepatitis A vaccine. Immune Globulin is a sterile solution of naturally produced antibodies originating from donated human blood. These antibodies fight the hepatitis A virus. Immune Globulin should be given as soon as possible after an exposure, within fourteen days. The Public Health Agency of Canada explains that Immune Globulin (IG), called also Immune Serum Globulin (ISG), provides protection from hepatitis A for 4 to 6 months.
The Public health agency of Canada also states that there are four hepatitis A vaccines licensed in Canada, which are safe and provide a long-lasting protection. They are all given in two doses: the second dose being administered 6 months after the first one. There are also two « combined » hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines licensed in Canada (one for adults and one for children), they are given in three doses over 6 months.
