About Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an acute infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus.

How Hepatitis A spreads

It is easily transmitted from person to person through contact with the feces of infected persons. Infections from fecal-oral spread can occur by:

• eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated
• direct person-to-person contact, including oral-anal sexual contact
• contact with a contaminated environment

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Symptoms of hepatitis A usually develop 28 - 30 days after exposure to the virus, although this period can range from 15 - 50 days. Initial symptoms of hepatitis A can include:

• fever
• nausea
• loss of appetite
• abdominal discomfort
• signs of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye)

Hepatitis A can be asymptomatic, especially among children younger than 6 years of age.

Hepatitis A vaccination

The hepatitis A vaccine is publicly funded in Ontario for:

• men who have sex with men
• people who use intravenous drugs
• people with chronic liver disease, including hepatitis B and C

The hepatitis A vaccine should be considered for other high-risk groups including:

• those who use non-injectable illicit drugs
• individuals living in communities at high risk for hepatitis A outbreaks
• travellers to endemic countries

Hepatitis A prevention

Good hygiene practices, like washing hands after using the bathroom, after changing diapers and before preparing food, can help prevent the spread of hepatitis A.

About Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. There are around 150 new cases of hepatitis B reported each year in Ontario.

There is no treatment. Most people get well, but about 10% will carry the virus for life and keep infecting other people. Some people will continue to have liver problems for the rest of their lives. Serious liver disease from hepatitis B virus can lead to liver cancer and even death.

How Hepatitis B spreads

Hepatitis B is spread through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. In Canada, it is mainly spread through unprotected sexual contact.

It can also be spread through:

• body/ear piercing or tattooing with infected equipment
• sharing used needles
• an infected mother to her child at birth

Symptoms of Hepatitis B

Symptoms of hepatitis B include:

• tiredness
• fever
• loss of appetite
• abdominal pain
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• pale greyish stools or very dark urine
• signs of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye)

Hepatitis B vaccination

The hepatitis B vaccine is publicly funded in Ontario for grade 7 students.

It is also covered for those with the following conditions or situations:

• children 7 years and under whose families have immigrated from countries of high prevalence for HBV and who may be exposed to HBV carriers through their extended families
• infants born to HBV-positive carrier mothers
• household and sexual contacts of chronic carriers and acute cases
• history of a sexually transmitted disease
• intravenous drug use
• liver disease (chronic), including hepatitis C
• awaiting liver transplants
• men who have sex with men
• multiple sex partners
• needle stick injuries in a non-health care setting
• on renal dialysis or those with diseases requiring frequent receipt of blood products (e.g., haemophilia)