Medical Faculty in Skopje

High School Graduates Nursing

Seminar work in English on the subject matter:

Content:
1. What is Hepatitis A?

2. What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

3. Who gets hepatitis A?

4. How do you get hepatitis A?

5. How is hepatitis A diagnosed?

6. How is hepatitis A treated?

7. How can I avoid getting hepatitis A?
8. Vaccine basics
9. Immunisation against hepatitis A
10. Reference

-What is Hepatitis A? -
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Hepatitis A is a viral disease that affects the liver. Anyone can be infected with
Hepatitis A if they have direct contact with food, drinks or objects contaminated by
the feces of an infected person. There have also been outbreaks associated with
eating contaminated shellfish and among particular groups including people who
inject illegal drags and men who have sex with man. Hepatitis A is also common in
developing countries where hygiene standard are poor.

Outbreaks can also occur in childcare centers. Children under five years of age often
don’t show any symptoms but can infect childcare workers or other children,
especially if care is not taken during diaper changing. The first sign of an outbreak is
usually when a parent or childcare worker become sick.

Symptoms may last for several weeks, but full recovery usually occurs after a while.
A single infection of hepatitis A will give you lifelong immune protection.

It is important to remember that Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are causes

by different viruses, are spread in different ways and require different treatments.
This means that prior to the infection with one type of virus won’t offer any immunity
against the other.

-What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?-

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 If symptoms occur, they can be vague and mimic the flu. Most people with hepatitis
A usually have:

 Fatique
 Loss of appetite
 Muscle ache and pain
 Nausea and vomiting
 Low-grade fever

Several days later, symptoms of liver problems will occur. You may have:

 Dark urine
 Light-colored bowel movements
 Yellow skin (jaundice). This is less common in children under age 6.
 Yellowing of the white part of the eyes (scleral icterus)
 Stomach pain

Children with hepatitis A may also have the following symptoms:

 Cold symptoms
 Cough
 Sore throat

 itchy skin

People over age 50 and those with chronic liver disease may have a more severe
case of hepatitis A called fulminant hepatitis A infection. Symptoms can include:

 Blood clotting problems

 Confusion and changes in alertness
 Liver function continues to get worse
 Yellowing of the skin and eyes that gets worse

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 - Who gets hepatitis A?-

Anyone can get hepatitis A, but those more likely to are people who
 travel to developing countries
 live with someone who currently has an active hepatitis A infection
 use illegal drugs, including noninjection drugs
 have unprotected sex with an infected person
 provide child care

Also, men who have sex with men are more likely to get hepatitis A.

- How do you get hepatitis A?-

You could get hepatitis A through contact with an infected person’s stool. This
contact could occur by
 eating food made by an infected person who didn’t wash his or her hands
after using the bathroom
 drinking untreated water or eating food washed in untreated water
 placing a finger or object in your mouth that came into contact with an infected
person’s stool
 having close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sex or
caring for someone who is ill

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 - How is hepatitis A diagnosed? –

A blood test will show if you have hepatitis A. Blood tests are done at a doctor’s
office or outpatient facility. A blood sample is taken using a needle inserted into a
vein in your arm or hand. The blood sample is sent to a lab to test for hepatitis A.

A blood test will show if you have hepatitis A.

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 - How is hepatitis A treated? –

Hepatitis A usually gets better in a few weeks without treatment. However, some
people can have symptoms for up to 6 months. Your doctor may suggest medicines
to help relieve your symptoms. Talk with your doctor before taking prescription and
over-the-counter medicines.

See your doctor regularly to make sure your body has fully recovered. If symptoms
persist after 6 months, then you should see your doctor again.

When you recover, your body will have learned to fight off a future hepatitis A
infection. However, you can still get other kinds of hepatitis.

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Hepatitis A usually gets better in a few weeks without treatment.

- How can I avoid getting hepatitis A? –

You can avoid getting hepatitis A by receiving the hepatitis A vaccine.

Vaccines are medicines that keep you from getting sick. Vaccines teach the body to
attack specific viruses and infections. The hepatitis A vaccine teaches your body to
attack the hepatitis A virus.
The hepatitis A vaccine is given in two shots. The second shot is given 6 to 12
months after the first shot. You should get both hepatitis A vaccine shots to be fully
protected.
All children should be vaccinated between 12 and 23 months of age. Discuss the
hepatitis A vaccine with your child’s doctor.
Adults at higher risk of getting hepatitis A and people with chronic liver disease
should also be vaccinated.
If you are traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common, including Mexico, try to
get both shots before you go. If you don’t have time to get both shots before you
travel, get the first shot as soon as possible. Most people gain some protection within
2 weeks after the first shot.
You can also protect yourself and others from hepatitis A if you

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 always wash your hands with warm, soapy water after using the toilet or
changing diapers and before fixing food or eating
 use bottled water for drinking, making ice cubes, and washing fruits and
vegetables when you are in a developing country
 tell your doctor and your dentist if you have hepatitis A

- Vaccine basics –

The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination with the hepatitis A
vaccine. Vaccination is recommended for all children age 12 months and older, for
travelers 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 TRAVELERS

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The first dose of hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for healthy international
travelers younger than 40 years of age at any time before departure. A shot
calledimmune globulin (IG) can be considered in addition to hepatitis A vaccine for
older adults, immunocompromised persons, and persons with chronic liver disease
or other chronic medical conditions who are traveling within two weeks. 

IG without hepatitis A vaccine can be given to travelers who are younger than 12
months of age, allergic to a vaccine component, or who elect not to receive vaccine.

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

SOME PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE VACCINATED OR SHOULD WAIT TO GET

VACCINATED

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  Anyone who has ever had a severe (life threatening) allergic reaction to a
previous dose of hepatitis A vaccine should not get another dose.

 Anyone who has a severe (life threatening) allergy to any vaccine component
should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies. All
hepatitis A vaccines contain alum and some hepatitis A vaccines contain 2-
phenoxyethanol.

 Anyone who is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled
should probably wait until they recover. Ask your doctor or nurse. People with a
mild illness can usually get the vaccine.

 Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. The safety of hepatitis A vaccine for
pregnant women has not been determined. But there is no evidence that it is
harmful to either pregnant women or their unborn babies. The risk, if any, is
thought to be very low.

- Immunisation against hepatitis A –

Immunisation is the best protection against hepatitis A infection and is recommended

for people in high-risk group. Immunisation against hepatitis A include a course of
injections over a six to 12 month period.
Protection against hepatitis A is available free of change under the National
Immunisation Program Schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
(between 12 and 24 month) who live in high-rick areas (Queensland, Northern
Territory, Western Australia and South Australia).
In Victoria, the vaccine is recommended for:
 People (12 month of age and over) travelling to place when hepatitis A is
common
 People whose work puts them at increased risk of infection including
plumbers or sewage workers and those who work with children, with people

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 with developmental disabilities or with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children in rural or remote Northern Territory or Western Australia
 People with developmental disabilities
 People with liver disease or people who have had a liver transplant or have
chronic hepatitis B or C
 Men who have sex with men
 Workers in the sex industry
 People who inject illegal drugs

References:
1. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepa_ez/#symptoms
2. http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Hepatitis_A_af
fects_the_liver
3. http://www.vaccines.gov/diseases/hepatitis_a/#
4. http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepa-guide/hepatitis-a-symptoms
5. http://www.medicinenet.com/hepatitis_a

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