Patient news from the health care team you trust Summer 2018
Vol. 2, Issue 3
Hepatitis A: What you need to know It is common for children 6 and under to not have symptoms when they have hepatitis A.
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate
As pockets of our region experience outbreaks of hepatitis A, or hep A, let’s talk about the facts and what you need to know when it comes to hepatitis A in both adults and children.
even exposed, during that time period. The incubation period for hepatitis A is 15 to 50 days, although some may have symptoms for as long as six months.
First, hepatitis A is a communicable disease that is transmitted personto-person via the fecal-oral route or by consumption of contaminated food and water. So, washing your hands after using the restroom and before eating and practicing good personal hygiene are important roles in prevention.
The most common symptoms of hepatitis A include: fever, nausea and/or vomiting, fatigue, abdominal pain, low appetite and jaundice.
Symptoms In many ways, hep A can, at first, appear similar to a stomach bug with abdominal pain and/or vomiting. You are most contagious during the one to two weeks prior to the onset of jaundice. Unfortunately, you may have no idea that you’re infected, or were
If you’ve already received the hep A vaccine, then you don’t need to do anything further. Hep A has been part of the standard vaccine recommendations for children since 2007. They typically receive the vaccine 12 - 23 months of age. Hep A is among the vaccinations required for pre-K and kindergarten program entry in West Virginia. If you have been exposed within two weeks to hepatitis A and have not been vaccinated, the recommendations are: • Less than 12 months of age: Immune globulin
IF EXPOSED TO HEP A
• 12 months through 40 years old: Hepatitis A vaccine
• Contact your local health department so they can document your exposure and administer the vaccine or immune globulin as necessary. • Seek treatment from your primary care physician or a walk-in clinic as soon as possible. Our primary care locations, walk-in clinics and pharmacies have the vaccine.
• 41 years old and older: Immune globulin, but hepatitis A vaccine can be used if immune globulin is unavailable
For more information about the prevention and treatment of hep A, read the full article at: healthy.marshallhealth.org