Many people will have mild symptoms including nausea, vomiting
and diarrhea.
Active hepatic disease may last up to 90 days.
Some
people may become jaundiced and rarely it is a cause of death
more notably in older travelers. People who have grown up
in developing countries where Hepatitis A was present may
already have an immunity built up to it.
If
a person has had Hepatitis A at any time in their life they
are felt to be immune to it. If there is any doubt whether
a previous infection was actually Hepatitis A or not, a blood
test can be done to determine this.
Hepatitis A may infect food and water.
Uncooked
shellfish (especially oysters) may cause Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis
A also affects children and a vaccination is recommended for
children 1 year and over. Risk is estimated to be 3-6 per
1000 per month to 20-1000 per month in higher risk travelers.
Individuals who are at high risk include: ethnic populations,
homosexual or bisexual men, IV drug users, military personnel,
individuals with liver disease, who routinely receive blood
products, lab workers, and primate handlers.
One dose of the Hepatitis A vaccine will provide protection
for up to twelve month.
A
booster can be given 6 - 12 months or later after the initial
shot.
The
second shot will boost the response for 10 years and it is
felt it may even last longer even lifelong. Hepatitis A vaccine
is also recommended and considered safe for pregnant women
who plan to travel.
Pregnant
women are more likely to become sick from a Hepatitis A infection.
Recently
expanded indications for vaccination include: fast food workers,
all children, daycare workers, and medical people.
It is recommended for ALL non-immunes going to developing
countries.
These
countries include: All of Latin America, Caribbean, Africa,
and Asia (except for Singapore and Japan). Eastern Europe
including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Albania is also included
(but not Greece or Southern Europe in General).
Although the vaccine provides protection against Hepatitis
A caution should still be taken when infectious agents may
be present in both food and water, because of the other infections
or pollutants that may be present as well.
Hepatitis
E is similar to Hepatitis A although there is no immunization
to protect against it yet.
Hepatitis
E is also transmitted through food and water.
Hepatitis
A links:
CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/
Hepatitis Foundation International
http://www.hepfi.org/
Canadian Liver Foundation
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