Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is typically a benign, self-limiting disease, with a serious outcome being very rare.

Overview

• incubation period: 2-4 weeks
• RNA picornavirus
• transmission is by faecal-oral spread, often in institutions
• doesn't cause chronic disease

Features

• flu-like prodrome
• jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly

Complications

• complications are rare and there is no increased risk of hepatocellular cancer

Immunisation

• an effective vaccine is available
• after the initial dose a booster dose should be given 6-12 months later

Who should be vaccinated? (Based on the Green book guidelines)

• people travelling to or going to reside in areas of high or intermediate prevalence, if aged > 1 year old
• people with chronic liver disease
• patients with haemophilia
• men who have sex with men
• injecting drug users
• individuals at occupational risk: laboratory worker; staff of large residential institutions; sewage workers; people who work with primates
• people infected with HIV