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Hepatitis A Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, March 2009.

Answers to questions about hepatitis A

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

Why is there no specific treatment available for hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A isn't treated with medicines because it's a short-term infection that goes away on its own. You should feel better within a few weeks, although you may feel tired and lack energy for up to two months. Once you have recovered, you will never be infected with hepatitis A again as your body will have built up immunity against the virus.

Explanation

Hepatitis A is a short-term (acute) infection which usually goes away on its own without treatment. This disease isn't usually life-threatening as it doesn't typically cause permanent liver damage. In contrast, hepatitis B and hepatitis C both tend to be long-term (chronic) infections and can seriously damage your liver.

If you're elderly or have a medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease, you may take longer to recover from hepatitis A. Hepatitis A can occasionally be fatal - you should contact your GP immediately if you have been exposed to hepatitis A.

Treatment decisions are usually based on your symptoms. Bed rest and decreased physical activity aren't necessarily required. You should find a comfortable level of activity based on how you feel. Even if you feel well, you may want to stay at home from work due to the possibility of infecting others around you, but you should discuss this with your GP. Remember that hepatitis A is passed from person to person by eating food or drinking water contaminated (infected) with the virus. The illness can spread easily within families and where people live closely together, so you will need to practise a high level of personal hygiene.

If you feel tired, decrease your level of activity. You should also drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. This is especially important if you have diarrhoea. You may have to stop taking some medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter, particularly paracetamol) while you have hepatitis A and not drink alcohol. This is because your liver won't be working properly. If you're not sure if you should take a medicine, ask your GP or pharmacist for advice.

It will take a while to recover from hepatitis A. Most people feel better within a few weeks, although they may feel tired and lack energy for up to two months. Once you have recovered, you will never be infected with hepatitis A again as your body will have built up immunity against the virus.

Further information

Sources

  • Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:496
  • Symptoms. British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • What is hepatitis A? British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
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How does hepatitis A differ from hepatitis B, C, D and E?

Hepatitis A, B and C are the most common viral hepatitis infections in the UK. Hepatitis B, C and D tend to be chronic infections (lasting more than six months) and can cause long-term liver problems. You can only get hepatitis D if you already have hepatitis B. Hepatitis A and E infections are generally acute (only lasting a few weeks or months) and are usually mild diseases.

Explanation

There are five types of hepatitis virus - A, B, C, D and E. They all attack and damage the liver. You usually get hepatitis A and E infections from close personal contact with an infected person or by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Although it's rare that food or water contains hepatitis A, certain types of shellfish (eg mussels, oysters and clams), and food that has been washed in contaminated water can contain the virus. Hepatitis B, C and D are spread when an infected person's blood enters your bloodstream. Hepatitis D is an 'incomplete' virus, which means you must already have hepatitis B infection for it to survive in your body. Only around one in 20 people with hepatitis B also have hepatitis D.

Hepatitis B, C and D infections can cause long-term liver problems, but hepatitis A and E infections don't. There are vaccines available that can protect you from hepatitis A and hepatitis B infection, but there is currently no vaccine to protect you from hepatitis C, D or E.

As hepatitis A and E are short-lived infections, they usually resolve without treatment. Because hepatitis B and hepatitis C (and hepatitis D if you already have hepatitis B) can cause long-term damage to your liver, it's important that you're seen by an infection specialist or hepatologist (a doctor specialising in liver diseases) as you may need antiviral medication to treat these infections. If you have had one type of viral hepatitis in the past, it's still possible to get the other types.

Further information

Sources

  • Hepatitis D and E. British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:496-497
  • Fish and shellfish. Food Standards Agency. www.eatwell.gov.uk, accessed 13 July 2008
  • Immunizations - travel - background information. Hepatitis A. http://cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 13 July 2008
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I've had close personal contact with someone infected with hepatitis A and I haven't been vaccinated. What should I do?

Visit your GP if you have been in close contact with someone infected with hepatitis A. Your GP will advise you on the most appropriate course of action, which may be immunisation with the hepatitis A vaccine or an injection of human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG).

Explanation

If you have been in close contact with someone infected with hepatitis A, contact your GP immediately. A vaccination can prevent hepatitis A if it's given to you within one week of contact with an infected person. Short-term protection against infection is also available, in the form of an injection of HNIG, which can protect you against hepatitis A for three to six months.

As it already contains antibodies to hepatitis A, HNIG gives you protective levels of antibody within hours of receiving the injection. In contrast, antibody levels and protection against infection take longer to develop following vaccination (around two weeks). This is because your body takes this amount of time to develop its own antibodies against the virus.

HNIG is only used if you're particularly vulnerable to hepatitis A infection (for example, if you have a weakened immune system) or if it's been over one week since you were in close contact with an infected person. Even if an infection isn't completely prevented, HNIG may reduce the severity of the hepatitis.

If you think you might be infected with hepatitis A, it's important to maintain good hygiene, particularly careful hand washing, to prevent infecting others. The hepatitis virus is killed in boiling water and by using household bleach on contaminated surfaces.

Hepatitis A is a notifiable disease, meaning that your case will be reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). The HPA may also contact you to ensure that you have been vaccinated.

Further information

Sources

  • Prevention. Hepatitis A. British Liver Trust. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • Crowcroft NS, Walsh B, Davison, KL, et al. Guidelines for the control of hepatitis A virus infection. Commun Dis Public Health 2001; 4:213-227. www.hpa.org.uk
  • Hepatitis A. Health Protection Agency. www.hpa.org.uk, accessed 28 October 2008
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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: March 2009

 

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