Hepatitis A - Liver Disease

Hepatitis A

·        = Infectious hepatitis

·        25 – 33% of clinical cases of hepatitis

·        Especially in kids, normally mild

·        Transmitted by food (especially raw shell fish) or contaminated water. 

·        Decreasing over time due to ­hygiene and good vaccine 

·        Viraemia lasts 7 days after onset of jaundice. Don‟t get virus in the blood (or only transiently). It‟s a gut bug

·        Symptoms: arthralgia, weight loss, fatigue, low grade fever, loss of appetite, abdominal pain

·        Diagnosed by IGM Anti HAV & ?exclusion of HBV

·        Treatment: supportive, dietary restriction, rest, no alcohol.  Notifiable disease

·        Post exposure prophylaxis with ISG for contacts

·        Vaccination:

o  Havrix 1440: 99% immunity after 1 month. One dose im. Booster after 6 – 12 months gives longer-term immunity. Inactivated HAV

o  Especially for travellers, sewage workers, health and childcare workers

o  Can‟t distinguish natural immunity from vaccine immunity (IgG Anti-HAV in both)