Importance Of The Hepatitis A Vaccination

Many health officials say that if you had to contract hepatitis, then the hepatitis A virus would be the one to catch. It is an acute viral disease that affects the liver but the upside is that it is not chronic and once it resolves itself, you develop immunity to further hepatitis A virus infections. Approximately 1/3 of Americans have been known to have been infected with the hepatitis A virus (HAV).

Hepatitis A causes liver inflammation and is contract via the oral-fecal route. This means that contaminated water and food are the primary ways of passing off the hepatitis A infection. Usually it is either the result of infected food handlers not washing their hands properly after going to the bathroom or the food (i.e. vegetables, shellfish, etc.) was grown or harvested from infected areas.

Risk Factors of Hepatitis A

There are a number of risk factors that you should avoid so as not to contract the virus yourself. For instance, since hepatitis A can be transmitted via contaminated food and water, limit your foreign travel, especially to third world or underdeveloped countries. Many times, there are unsafe water sources and unsanitary waste conditions which could easily contaminate your food and water.

If you live with a person who is infected with HAV, you should limit contact with anything where you could come in contact with the infected person’s bodily fluids. Do not share towels, toothbrushes, eating utensils, drinking glasses, kissing and more.

IV drug use and having oral and anal sex with a person with hepatitis A are two additional risk factors. Of course, living in an area with an outbreak of hepatitis A is a risk as well, so talk with your city, county or state government’s health officials about precautions.

Signs of Hepatitis A and Treatment

Some people do not show any signs of hepatitis A and therefore do not know they have it. Only through routine blood testing in a physical or through the donation of blood do most unsuspecting people find out. Otherwise, people who have HAV may have light colored bowel movements, fever, dark urine, tiredness and jaundice. Symptoms usually resolve themselves in about two months.

The best treatment for hepatitis A is prevention. By getting an immunization shot as needed, you can prevent becoming infected altogether. However, not all adults think of it so if you believe that you were exposed to hepatitis A recently, you can receive an immune globulin shot to protect you from possible symptoms. However, it is only effective if you receive the shot within the first 14 days of exposure.

Prevention of Hepatitis A

Employing proper hand washing practices is important as well as eating food that has been thoroughly cooked. If you are traveling abroad, only drink water that is bottled with an unbroken seal or boil the water or treat chemically with iodine or chlorine. Also do not eat any raw food.

Vaccination against hepatitis A is the best recourse to preventing the viral infection, especially for children. During the time of infection, immunity is down so there is always a chance that someone could become sick with another illness. Hands down the best way to prevent hepatitis A is vaccinations for both children and adults.

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