Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a potentially serious form of liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus which attacks the liver.

your quick guide to this page

what is hepatitis A?: Learn what defines hepatitis A and what its general consequences are.
fast facts: Get a quick overview of hepatitis A through statistics and bite-sized facts.
symptoms: Learn about the symptoms of hepatitis A, how to recognize them, and what to do if you experience them.
lifestyle impacts: Find out how hepatitis A impacts your lifestyle.
what can I do?: Discover management and treatment strategies for hepatitis A.
additional resources: Find useful links, education, articles, recipes and more that can help with hepatitis A.

what is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is spread through close contact with an infected person, or by eating hepatitis A contaminated food or drinking water. Food and water can become contaminated when an infected individual does not wash their hands after using the bathroom before preparing food, or through water that is untreated or sewage water.

While often considered to be a ‘traveller’s disease’, hepatitis A can be contracted in Canada. Hepatitis A outbreaks or scares in Canada are most often associated with infected food handlers in restaurants and grocery stores or with contaminated produce.

symptoms

Not all people experience symptoms and in general, children have milder symptoms than adults. They may occur 15 to 50 days from first contact. Typical symptoms of an acute hepatitis A infection include:

fatigue
nausea and vomiting
abdominal discomfort
jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin)
dark urine
low-grade fever
loss of appetite

who is most at risk?

You have an increased risk of hepatitis A if you:

travel to regions where hepatitis A is common (e.g. The Caribbean, South America)
live with someone who is newly infected with hepatitis A
use injection drugs and share contaminated drug preparation/injection materials
not practicing safe connections with others

what can I do?

prevention

There is a safe and effective vaccine that can protect you from getting hepatitis A.

In addition, some safety precautions include:

wash your hands frequently and thoroughly especially after using the washroom, before preparing food and before eating
avoid raw or undercooked food
if you are travelling to countries with high rates of hepatitis A:
- drink bottled or boiled water and use it for brushing your teeth
- drink bottled beverages without ice
- avoid uncooked food including salads
- avoid food from street vendors
- peel and wash fresh fruits and vegetables yourself

diagnosis

Blood tests are performed to see if HAV antibodies are in the body. Antibodies are proteins created by the immune system in response to viruses.

treatment

There is no drug treatment for hepatitis A. The disease will eventually run its course in about 6 months. An infected person will recover completely although recovery time varies for each person. Doctors often recommend eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and avoiding alcohol to help your liver recover from the virus. Recovery from this virus infection means that you are protected for life from getting it again.

additional resources

Here are a few questions to ask your doctor or medical team:

Do I need to be re-vaccinated against Hepatitis A?
Am I contagious? How can I notify people that I may have been in close contact with?
What kinds of medications can I take?