Should I Get A Hepatitis A Vaccine?
Our office provides hepatitis A vaccines. Read below to learn more and decide if you might need a vaccine!
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A can affect anyone. Hepatitis A is a highly contagious, short-term liver infection. Vaccines are available for long-term prevention of HAV infection in persons 1 year of age and older. Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can also help prevent the spread of hepatitis A.
Since the hepatitis A vaccine was first recommended in 1996, cases of hepatitis A in the United States declined dramatically. Unfortunately, in recent years the number of people infected has been increasing because there have been multiple outbreaks of hepatitis A in the United States resulting from person-to-person contact.
Not everyone with hepatitis A has symptoms. Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children. If symptoms develop, they usually appear 2 to 7 weeks after infection. Symptoms usually last less than 2 months, although some people can be ill for as long as 6 months.
If symptoms develop, they can include:
Yellow skin or eyes
Not wanting to eat
Upset stomach
Throwing up
Stomach pain
Fever
Dark urine or light- colored stools
Diarrhea
Joint pain
Feeling tired
A doctor can determine if you have hepatitis A by discussing your symptoms and ordering a blood test that can tell whether you have been recently infected with the virus that causes hepatitis A.
The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination with the hepatitis A vaccine.