Hepatitis Vaccine (Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B)

“Both hepatitis A and hepatitis B cause inflammation of the liver, which may be acute or chronic. Although hepatitis A and hepatitis B are spread differently, a hepatitis vaccine is available for both types. If you are planning to travel to a foreign country, work in a job in which exposure to hepatitis is possible or just want to protect yourself from a potentially life-threatening infection, make an appointment to come in for your hepatitis vaccine today”.

-Dr. Bella Zimilevich, MD

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is the medical term referring to inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis has many causes, including excessive alcohol consumption, certain medications and infections. Although other viruses can cause the liver to become inflamed, only the hepatitis viruses (there are five, A, B, C, D and E) cause hepatitis.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is passed from person to person by what is known as the fecal-oral route. The virus is present in an infected person’s feces (bowel movements). If the infected person fails to observe proper hygiene (washing hands after visiting the bathroom), the virus can be spread through direct contact to another person through touch, the handling of food or touching inanimate objects such as doorknobs or tabletops. The virus can survive for 2 to 3 hours on inanimate objects. People traveling to foreign countries may become exposed to the virus through contaminated food or water.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is spread through contact with infected body fluids and blood. Routes of infection include:

Recovery from hepatitis

Most people recover from hepatitis A without treatment, although symptoms such as fatigue may linger for months. If you get hepatitis, you should not drink alcohol during your recovery, as it is the liver that processes alcohol. Older people generally become more seriously ill with hepatitis A. The disease is occasionally fatal.

Although most people eventually recover from hepatitis B, some will become chronic carriers of the disease (10%). This means that you could pass the disease to others for the rest of your life, even if you never develop symptoms yourself! Hepatitis B can cause serious liver disease-in fact, 80% of liver cancers occur in people who have the chronic form of hepatitis B.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis?

Acute hepatitis causes flu-like symptoms (muscle aches, headache, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and low-grade fever) which appear approximately 3 to 10 days before liver symptoms are noticed.

Joint pain and a rash similar to hives may appear in hepatitis B.

As the liver becomes more involved, there may be darkening of the urine and yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Stools may be clay-colored and the skin may be itchy.

The best offense is a good defense

If you are a health care worker or work at a job that puts you at risk of coming in contact with individuals who may have hepatitis (i.e., prison or other institutional workers), you should be vaccinated against hepatitis B. Likewise, if you are planning to travel to a foreign country you should be vaccinated against hepatitis A. Even 5-star resorts have experienced hepatitis outbreaks- all it takes is one infected person who fails to wash their hands properly before handling your food and you may bring home a souvenir you never planned on, one that could make you ill for a long time. If your lifestyle puts you at risk of coming into contact with hepatitis B, you should strongly consider being vaccinated. No judgement here- simply make an appointment and come in for your vaccine.

A combination vaccine that is effective against both hepatitis A and B  is available. Three shots are necessary, with the second shot administered one month after the first shot and the third shot six months after the first shot. It is very important that you receive all three shots in the series to be fully protected. It is important for you to know that the hepatitis vaccine does not contain any live virus particles – you cannot get hepatitis from the vaccine.

What should I expect when I come in for my shot?

When you come in for your vaccine, I will need to know if you are taking any medications and if you have any allergies. It is helpful to bring your schedule of immunizations if you have one. I will also ask if you are feeling well- if you are not feeling well (i.e., you have a fever or a cold) we may need to postpone your vaccination. You can call the office prior to your visit if you are not feeling well and are unsure whether to keep your appointment.

The shot itself takes only minutes. You may notice that your arm is a little sore for a couple of days after you receive your shot. The injection site may be slightly reddened. A few people (1 to 10%) experience stomach upset, fatigue and headache for a few days after the shot. These symptoms are generally mild and short-lived.

Hepatitis A and B are serious infections that can have long-term consequences. Both can be prevented through vaccination. If your lifestyle puts you at risk, you work with individuals who may be infected or you are planning to travel outside the country, you should strongly consider vaccination against the disease. Call now to make your appointment.

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