Hepatitis A

In a regular clinic, these vaccines are costly and you need to pay cash upfront for them. However, through our travel clinic, we can bill insurance directly and save you money upfront.

Hepatitis A is a viral disease that is most common in developing countries. It is mostly associated with poor hygiene and sanitation. It is one of the most common vaccines for travelers to receive. There is no medicine or cure to treat Hepatitis A, however, it can be prevented by a vaccine.

Your risk is dependent on various factors such as the length of your trip and the living conditions where you will be staying. Those who have the highest risk include those visiting rural areas or those who are eating and drinking in locations with poor sanitation/unsafe food handling measures. It is still possible to contract Hepatitis A even if you are going for short periods of time to urban areas, and hotels with good sanitation precautions.

Hepatitis A is found in the feces of an infected person. It spreads through contaminated food and water, as well as close contract with a person who is infected. It can also be contracted from some uncooked food (shellfish, fruits, salads, etc.), and foods that have been prepared in unsanitary areas with unsafe food handling practices. Hepatitis A occurs worldwide, but is most common in Africa, Asia, Central and South America.

Symptoms can take anywhere from 15 to 50 days to appear, however, on average it takes 28 days. Symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort
• Dark urine and grey-coloured stool
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

In rare occasions, this virus can also result in:

• Liver damage
• Liver failure
• Death

Recovery usually takes a few weeks, but can take up to months in some people.