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 (MSM)
- 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.
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 (external PDF) in Ontario for:
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)