About hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an infection in the liver that is caused by the hepatitis A virus.

One out of 4 adults who get hepatitis A need to be admitted to a hospital. It’s rare, but you can die from a hepatitis A infection.

Learn more about hepatitis A.

Who is most at risk?

You are at high risk of getting hepatitis A if you:

• have close contact with someone infected with hepatitis A
• live in a community or travel to an area that has a high risk of hepatitis A
• have a lifestyle that puts you at risk of getting the infection, such as using street drugs
• are a man who has sex with men
• need certain treatments for a bleeding disorder
• have contact with the virus at work, such as some researchers and people who work with monkeys or other non-human primates

People who have liver problems, have a weak immune system, or are over age 60 years are at higher risk for getting seriously ill if they get hepatitis A.

How it spreads

It spreads through infected stool (poop) getting onto hands or into food and water, and then into the mouth.

Symptoms

Symptoms include poor appetite, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting (throwing up), feeling tired, fever, and jaundice (yellow skin and eyes). The symptoms can be serious and last for months.

Some people, especially babies and young children, do not have symptoms but can still spread the disease.

Vaccine

• hepatitis A vaccine (HAV)
• Twinrix (protection against hepatitis A and B viruses)
• Vivaxim (protection against hepatitis A virus and typhoid fever)

Immune globulin (IG)

If you have contact with the hepatitis A virus and are at risk for serious illness, you may get immune globulin. Immune globulin can help prevent hepatitis A or prevent getting seriously sick if you do get the disease.

Immune globulins give quick, short-term protection. For long-term protection, you need a vaccine.

Learn more about immune globulin.

Travel

To find out if you need a hepatitis A vaccine for travel and when you need it:

• Contact a private travel health clinic, your doctor, or your pharmacist.
• Go to travel.gc.ca.

It is best to contact a private travel clinic, your doctor, or your pharmacist at least 6 weeks before you travel.

Contact your local public health or community health centre to find out if you need any routine immunizations.

Prevent the spread

In addition to getting the hepatitis A vaccine, you can prevent the spread of hepatitis A with regular handwashing, using safe food practices, and practising safer sex.

Learn more about how to avoid spreading hepatitis A.