Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus that's spread in the poo of an infected person. Show It's uncommon in the UK, but certain groups are at increased risk. This includes travellers to parts of the world with poor levels of sanitation, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs. Hepatitis A can be unpleasant, but it's not usually serious and most people make a full recovery within a couple of months. Some people, particularly young children, may not have any symptoms. But hepatitis A can occasionally last for many months and, in rare cases, it can be life-threatening if it causes the liver to stop working properly (liver failure). A hepatitis A vaccine is available for people at a high risk of infection. This page covers: Symptoms of hepatitis A When to get medical advice How you can get hepatitis A Vaccination against hepatitis A Treatments for hepatitis A Outlook for hepatitis A Symptoms of hepatitis AThe symptoms of hepatitis A develop, on average, around 4 weeks after becoming infected, although not everyone will experience them. Symptoms can include:
The symptoms will usually pass within a couple of months. Read more about symptoms of hepatitis A. When to get medical adviceSee your GP for advice if:
Although hepatitis A isn't usually serious, it's important to get a proper diagnosis to rule out more serious conditions with similar symptoms, such as hepatitis C or cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). It may also be necessary to test your friends, family and any sexual partners, in case you've spread the infection to them. How you can get hepatitis AHepatitis A is most widespread in parts of the world where standards of sanitation and food hygiene are generally poor, such as parts of Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Far East, the Middle East, and Central and South America. You can get the infection from:
Someone with hepatitis A is most infectious from around two weeks before their symptoms appear until about a week after the symptoms first develop. Read more about the causes of hepatitis A. Vaccination against hepatitis AVaccination against hepatitis A isn't routinely offered in the UK because the risk of infection is low for most people. It's only recommended for people at an increased risk, including:
The hepatitis A vaccine is usually available for free on the NHS for anyone who needs it. Read more about the hepatitis A vaccine. Treatments for hepatitis AThere's currently no cure for hepatitis A, but it will normally pass on its own within a couple of months. You can usually look after yourself at home. While you're ill, it's a good idea to:
Speak to your GP if your symptoms are particularly troublesome or haven't started to improve within a couple of months. They can prescribe medications to help with itchiness, nausea or vomiting, if necessary. Read more about treating hepatitis A. Outlook for hepatitis AFor most people, hepatitis A will pass within 2 months and there will be no long-term effects. Once it passes, you normally develop life-long immunity against the virus. For around 1 in every 7 people with the infection, the symptoms may come and go for up to 6 months before eventually passing. Life-threatening complications such as liver failure are rare, affecting less than 1 in every 250 people with hepatitis A. People most at risk include those with pre-existing liver problems and elderly people. Where is hepatitis A most likely found?Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. Hepatitis A is very contagious.
What countries is hepatitis A found?Hepatitis A and B occur worldwide.
Regions with a moderate to high risk for hepatitis A infection include—but are not limited to—popular travel destinations such as the Caribbean, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, Latin America, North Africa, Middle East, and Oceania.
How common is hepatitis A in the world?The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 1.5 million cases of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections every year worldwide, with low socio-economic profiles and lack of access to clean drinking water being the primary contributing factor to incidence and endemicity.
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