HEPATITIS A - THE DISEASE

HEPATITIS A IS SERIOUS LIVER DISEASE CAUSED BY HEPATITIS A VIRUS [HAV].HAV IS FOUND IN TH STOOL OF PERSONS WITH HEPATITIS A. IT IS USUALLY SPREAD BY CLOSE PERSONAL CONTACT AND SOMETIME BY EATING FOOD OR DRINKING WATER CONTAINING HAV. IT IS COMMON IN COUNTRIES SUCH AS PAKISTAN WHERE SANITARY CONDITION ARE SUBSTANDARD.


HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE HEPATITIS A?




INDIVIDUALS WITH HEPATITIS A EXPIRATION AN ABRUPT ONSET, NAUSEA AND ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT , FOLLOWED BY JAUNDICE WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE DISEASE MY RANGE FROM MILD [LASTING 1-2 WEEKS] TO SEVERE DISABLING DISEASE [ LASTING SEVERAL MONTHS]. IN AREAS HIGHLY ENDEMIC FOR HEPATITIS A, MOST INFECTIONS OCCUR DURING CHILDHOOD.


IS HEPATITIS A CONTAGIOUS 


HEPATITIS A VIRUS IS TYPICALLY ACQUIRED BY INGESTING FOOD OR WATER THAT HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH THE STOOL OF PERSON WITH HEPATITIS A. THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION IS CALLED "FAECOL-ORAL". DIRECT PERSON TO PERSON SPREAD IS COMMON UNDER POOR HYGIENIC CONDITIONS TOP. FOR THIS REASON, THE VIRUS IS MORE EASAILY SPREAD IN AREAS WHERE  THERE ARE POOR SANITARY CONDITIONS  OR WHERE GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE IS NOT ABSERVED.






HOW CAN YOU OVOID HEPATITIS A?

• ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER USING THE BATHROOM, OR BEFORE PREPARING OR EATING FOOD
• HOWEVER, HEPATITIS A VACCINE IS THE BEST PROTECTION.

WHO SHOULD GET HEPATITIS A VACCINE AND WHEN ?


SOME PEOPLE SHOULD BE ROUTINELY VACCINATED WITH HEPATITIS A VACCINE:

• ALL CHILDREN 1 YEAR [12 THROUGH 23 MONTHS OF AGE
• PERSON 1 YEAR OF AGE AND OLDER TRAVELING TO OR WORKING IN COUNTRIES WITH HIGHT OR INTERMEDIATE PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS A, SUCH AS AFRICA, CENTRAL OR SOUTH AMERICA, AND EASTERN EUROPE

HEPATITIS A VACCINE MIGHT BE RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS IN COMMUNITIES WHERE OUTBREAKS OF HEPATITIS A ARE ACCURING.


TOW DOSES OF THE VACCINE ARE NEEDED FOR LASTING PROTECTION. THESE DOSES BE GIVEN AT LEAST 6 MONTH APART .




HEPITITIS A VACCINE MY BE GIVEN AT THE SAME TIME AS OTHER VACCINES.






IS HEPITITIS A VACCINE SAFE?




YES, HEPATITIS A VACCINE HAS AN EXCELLENT SAFETY PROFILE. NO SEIOUS ADVESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED DEFINITEIVELY TO HEPATTIS A VACCINE. SORENESS AT THE INJECTION SITE IS THE MOST FREQUENTLY REPORTED SIDE EFFECT


WHO SHOULD NOT GET HEPATITIS A VACCINE?


ANYONE:

• WHO HASE EVER HAD A SEVERE [LIFE THREATENING] ALLERGIC TO A PREVIOUS DOSE OF HEPATITIS A VACCINE.
• WHO HAS A SEVER [LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIC REACTION TO ANY VACCINE COMPONENT. ALL HEPATITIS VACCINE CONTAINS ALUM WHILE SOME CONTAIN 2- PHENOXYETHANOL
• WHO IS MODERATELY OR SVERELY ILL AT THE TIME THE SHOT IS SHEDULED TO BE ADMINISTERED
• WHO MIGHT BE PREGNANT , AS THE SAFETY OF HEPATITIS A VACCINE HAS YET NOT BEEN DETERMINED IN PREGNANT WOMEN.HOWEVER THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT IS HARMFUL TO THE PREGNANT WOMEN OR HER UNBORN BABY

GET YOUR CHILD VACCINATED

FOR MORE INFORMATION ASK YOUR

HEALTHCARE PROVIDER