Vaccines
of Hepatitis A and B
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are closely related
diseases. Hepatitis is marked by liver inflammation, and the consequences of
getting the disease are potentially serious and, in some cases, fatal. There
are safe and effective vaccines that can prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
There is even a combination vaccine that can protect against both diseases.
Hepatitis
A
Hepatitis A is an acute liver disease that's caused
by the hepatitis A virus or HAV. The virus is present in the stool of someone
who has the disease and is commonly spread by close personal contact. If one
member of a family has hepatitis A, he or she can easily pass the disease to
others living in the same household. Commonly associated with unsanitary
conditions, the virus can also be spread through ingesting food or water that's
been contaminated with HAV. Although it's less common, it's also possible for
the virus to be passed on in blood from an infected person.
Symptoms of HAV infection include a mild flu-like
illness, jaundice, and severe stomach pains and diarrhea. Approximately 20% of
people with symptoms need to be hospitalized, and three to five people out of
every 1,000 cases die from the disease. Most children -- about 90% -- under the
age of 6 who develop hepatitis A are symptom-free. But even though they don't
appear to be ill, the virus is still present in their stool, and they can pass
the disease on to others.
Vaccination
Hepatitis
A
vaccination is recommended for all children age 12 months and older, for travellers
to certain countries, and for people at high risk for infection with the virus.
The hepatitis A vaccine is given as two shots, six
months apart. The hepatitis A vaccine also comes in a combination form,
containing both hepatitis A and B vaccine, that can be given to persons 18
years of age and older. This form is given as three shots, over a period of six
months or as three shots over one month and a booster shot at 12 months.
For
children: The first dose should be given at 12-23 months of
age. Children who are not vaccinated by two years of age can be vaccinated at
later visits.
For
travellers: The first dose of hepatitis A vaccine is
recommended for healthy international travellers younger than 40 years of age
at any time before departure.
For
others: The hepatitis A vaccine series may be started
whenever a person is at risk of infection:
Men who have sexual contact with other men, Users of
certain illegal drugs, both injection and non-injection, Family and caregivers
before arrival of international adoptees, People with chronic (lifelong) liver
diseases, such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C, People who are treated with
clotting-factor concentrates, People who work with hepatitis A infected animals
or in a hepatitis A research laboratory.
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