Hepatitis A

Background of Illness

This is a mild illness most common in children, occurs by faecal, oral route through person to person spread or contaminated by food. It is mainly spread by sewage and salad vegetables which are not properly washed.

Vaccine Facts

The vaccine is not a live vaccine, it can be combined with typhoid vaccine as well as Hepatitis B vaccine. A single dosage of Hepatitis A is enough to give immunity for 10 years, but when combined with Hepatitis B three dosages have to be given. For travellers the vaccine has to be given about two weeks before departure, it is preferable to give a booster dose of Hepatitis between 6-12 months and this can give immunity for 10 years.

Complications

Adverse reactions to Hepatitis A are very few and mild, but other side effects like fever, temperature, fatigue, headache are reported very infrequently.