Topic: Hepatitis A
Description
Hepatitis A, also known as infectious hepatitis, is an acute infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. The seriousness of the disease can vary. Some people, especially small children, may not show any symptoms even though they may have the virus and can pass it onto others. The disease is usually more serious in adults than in children.
Symptoms
The symptoms of hepatitis A are fever, generalised aches and pains, nausea, lack of appetite and abdominal discomfort. Dark urine is usually the first specific sign of acute hepatitis A, followed a day or two later by jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) and pale coloured bowel motions.
The duration of the illness is variable, however most people feel better by the third week. Occasionally, generally in adults, it presents as a serious, disabling disease lasting several months.
There are usually no long term effects as a direct result of hepatitis A infection. Unlike hepatitis B or C, people cannot become chronic carriers of hepatitis A virus.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Management of people infected with the virus is aimed at treating the symptoms of the infection. People with Hepatitis A are sometimes sick enough to be admitted to hospital although this is rare.
Health Outcome
Complications of hepatitis A are uncommon but on rare occasion can include liver failure resulting in death.
Transmission
The virus is usually spread when faeces from an infected person contaminates something which is transferred to another person’s mouth. The virus can be passed on by:
- food that has been handled by or shared with an infected person
- drinking contaminated water
- hands after touching infected faeces, nappies, linen and towels
- oral or anal sex.
The virus can survive in a dried form at room temperature for several weeks and in water for longer periods.
It usually takes about 28 to 30 days from contact with the virus until starting to feel unwell. However, it can take up to 50 days.
Infected people can pass the virus to others from about two weeks before and up to one week after the appearance of dark urine or jaundice.
Control
People with hepatitis A should not return to work, school or child care until they are no longer infectious which is at least seven days after the onset of jaundice.
Hand washing and good hygiene practices are essential and is the most effective way of reducing the spread of hepatitis A infection. Hands should be washed thoroughly in soap and water for at least 15 seconds and then dried thoroughly. It is important to wash hands after going to the toilet, touching soiled linen or articles and before preparing or eating food.
Household or child care contacts of a hepatitis A case should be given immunoglobulin for protection. Immunoglobulin is not a vaccine, but will provide short term protection if given within two weeks of contact with an infected person.
Vaccination
There is a safe and effective vaccine available for protection against hepatitis A infection.
The hepatitis A vaccine is not usually recommended for the management of contacts of cases of hepatitis A as the vaccine takes approximately two weeks to provide adequate protection against the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A vaccine can be administered at the same time as immunoglobulin if ongoing protection against hepatitis A infection is required.
The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended and provided free of charge for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, because of the high incidence of hepatitis A infection in these communities. The vaccine is given to these children at 18 months of age with a booster at two years of age.
The vaccine is also recommended (but not funded) for people at high risk of exposure to the disease, such as:
- travellers to developing countries where hepatitis A can be very common
- those working in rural and remote Indigenous communities
- child care and preschool staff
- the intellectually disabled and their carers
- health care providers - nursing and medical staff in paediatric wards, intensive care units and emergency departments that provide for substantial proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- sewage workers
- men who have sex with men
- injecting drug users
- people with chronic liver disease
- haemophiliacs who may receive pooled plasma concentrates.
Help and Assistance
For further information please contact:
- your local doctor
- Population Health Unit
- 13HEALTH (1343 2584) information line
Other Resources
Heymann, D., ed. 2004. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 18th edition. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, pp 247-253.
Related content
National Health and Medical Research Council, 2003. The Australian Immunisation Handbook (9th Ed.) Canberra: National Capital Printing.
Hepatitis A and immunisation Fact sheet
Last Updated: 12th October, 2009
Date Valid to: 30th June, 2010
