What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver which is infrequent in Australia. While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in QLD, NT, SA and WA are at risk, vaccination is not routinely recommended for other Australians. As the virus is contracted by ingesting contaminated food or water, it is more common in overseas countries where water and sanitation infrastructure are less well established or maintained.
FAQs
For which foreign countries is hepatitis A vaccination recommended?
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Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for Australian travellers to areas of intermediate and high endemnicity. This includes Central and South America, eastern Europe, and parts of Africa and Asia.
How long before I travel do I need to get the vaccine?
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Around two weeks is usually sufficient time for your body to develop its maximum immune response after vaccination.
How much does the hepatitis A vaccine cost?
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The cost varies, but some providers have made hepatitis A vaccines available at around $60 to $70.
How long does the hepatitis A vaccine last?
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Two doses of hepatitis A vaccine provide long term protection against the virus.
What to Know
Hepatitis A Symptoms
After an incubation period of around 28 days (range 15 to 50 days) symptoms of fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain begin. Liver function, measured by blood tests, becomes impaired. After a few days, many people experience a yellowing of the skin and sclera of the eyes, known as jaundice.
While the vast majority of people make a full recovery, around one percent experience severe disease leading to liver failure. Risk factors for fulminant liver failure include being over 50 years old, or having pre-existing liver problems like hepatitis B or C. This form of the disease may be fatal without a liver transplant.
Hepatitis A Diagnosis and Treatment
Hepatitis A infection is diagnosed using a blood test to detect antibodies against the hepatitis A virus. Confirmatory tests using PCR can also be performed on the same sample. Treatment for non-severe cases involves supportive care, use of medications to manage symptoms and avoidance of medications which can impair liver function further. Recovery usually takes two to three months.
Hepatitis A Prevention
Prevention of hepatitis A infection involves immunisation for those at risk and adhering to good food-and-water hygiene measures. Hepatitis A immunisation is only given as part of the childhood vaccination schedule to those with specific risk factors (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in QLD, NT, SA and WA), so many people don’t consider having it until travelling overseas. The most common adverse reactions after vaccination are limited to pain at the injection site and, less commonly, headache and fever. Severe allergic reactions are very rare. A first dose of hepatitis A immunisation prior to travel followed by a second dose six months later are sufficient to provide long-term protection.