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Information Session for Hepatitis A |
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4. Can I catch Hepatitis A when I undergo a dental procedure? No. No carrier state is known to exist for Hepatitis A, so once a patient is clinically recovered (symptoms have subsided) patient is not infectious.
Transmission of Hepatitis A can occur by parenteral (introduced through the intestines) means but it is rare and it would have to be from a patient who is demonstrating symptoms of Hepatitis.
Following standard precautions for handling bodily fluids in a dental clinic should prevent transmission of disease.
Any patient who has signs or symptoms suggestive of hepatitis should not be treat by dental treatment providers which will prevent possibility of parenteral transmission in a dental clinic.
Individuals who know they have hepatitis should not seek dental treatment until they have recovered. |
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5. How do I know if I have Hepatitis A? What are the symptoms? After you have been exposed to the virus, it can take from 2 to 7 weeks before you see any signs of it. Symptoms usually last for about 2 months.
Common symptoms are: · Feeling very tired · Feeling sick to your stomach · Not feeling hungry · Losing weight without trying · Pain on the right side of the belly, under the rib cage (where the liver is) · A fever · Sore muscles
Older people with Hepatitis A may get yellow skin (jaundice) along with dark urine and clay-coloured stools. |
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6. If I am infected with Hepatitis A, am I contagious right away? After the Hepatitis A virus enters your body, the amount of virus grows for 2 to 7 weeks. The average incubation period is about 4 weeks.
Your stools and body fluids contain the highest levels of the virus 2 weeks before symptoms start. This is the time when you are most contagious, but you still may spread the virus after symptoms appear.
It is very rare for Hepatitis A virus to be spread by infected blood or blood products. It is not known to be spread through saliva or urine. |
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7. What to do if I have symptoms of Hepatitis A All forms of hepatitis have similar symptoms. Only a blood test can tell if you have Hepatitis A or another form of the disease.
Call your doctor or health centre nurse right away if: · You have any signs of Hepatitis A. · Someone you live with has Hepatitis A · You have eaten in a restaurant that has had an outbreak of the virus. · Your child hoes to a daycare centre where Hepatitis A has been reported. |
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8. How is Hepatitis A diagnosed? Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and where you have eaten or travelled. You may have blood tests if your doctor thinks you have the virus. These tests can tell if your liver is inflamed and whether you have antibodies to the Hepatitis A virus. These antibodies prove that you have been exposed to the virus.
Take steps to avoid passing Hepatitis A on to others. Tell people you live with or have sex with that you have Hepatitis A. Wash you hands with soap and hot water right after you use the bathroom or change a diaper and before you prepare food. |
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9. How is it treated? Hepatitis A goes away on its own in most cases. You can help yourself get better faster by drinking lots of water and eating a health mix of foods.
Unlike other forms of hepatitis, the Hepatitis A virus does not lead to long-term illness or serious liver damage. Most people get well within a few months.
While you have Hepatitis A, cut back on daily activities until all of your energy returns. As you start to feel better, take your time in getting vakc to your regular activities. If you try to meet your regular pace too soon, you may get sick again.
You can only get the Hepatitis A virus once. After that, your body builds up a defence against it. |
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10. Can Hepatitis A be prevented? You can protect yourself from Hepatitis A by getting a vaccine (Avaxim, Harxim, or Vaqta). You will get it in a series of two shots. It is usually 100% effective if you get booth shots before you are exposed to the virus. A combination vaccine (Twinrix) that protects against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B also is available.
If you have been around someone who you know has Hepatitis A, the Hepatitis A vaccine may prevent you from getting the disease. It’s important for you to get the shot within 2 weeks of being exposed to the virus. Hepatitis A (immune globulin) antigen to prevent Hepatitis A in infants younger than 1 year, people with weak immune systems, and others who should not get he Hepatitis A vaccine. |
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For more information, please refer to: BC CDC http:\\www.bccdc.ca\default.htm Health Link BC http:\\www.healthlinkbc.ca\kbaltindex.asp
Or contact: 1. Your local Community Health Nurse 2. FNIH Health Protection 604-666-8365 / 604-666-1300 3. The local Regional Health Authority’s Public Health Nurse
References: Hepatitis A overview: http:\\www.bccdc.ca/dis-cond/a-z/_h/HepatitisA/overviewaccessedjanuary7,2011 Hepatitis A http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kb/content/major/hw124783.html#hw124799 Hepatitis B http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kb/content/major/hw40968.html Hepatitis C http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kb/content/major/hw144584.html
Hepatitis A and dental procedures: Dr. Jim Rogers, Regional Dental Officer, First Nations and Inuit Health, Health Canada |
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3. How can someone be infected with Hepatitis A?
The Hepatitis A virus is found in the bowel movements (stools) of an infected person. Even if a person does not feel ill, they are still able to spread the Hepatitis A virus to others.
Person to Person Contact: · Eating food that has been touched by contaminated hands · People who go to the bathroom and then don’t wash their hands properly can pass the virus to others through food preparation or other hand/mouth contacts · When a parent or caregiver does not properly wash his or hers hands after changing diapers or cleaning up the stool of an infected person · Sexual activities where feces may enter the mouth · Through the use of contaminated illicit drugs
Contaminated Food or Water: · Eating raw or under-cooked shellfish such as crabs, clams, oysters, or mussels that have been exposed to contaminated sewage · Eating contaminated fruits or vegetables · Drinking water or ice contaminated with the virus · People traveling to areas of developing countries where Hepatitis A is common and there are poor sanitary conditions or poor personal hygiene, are more likely to come into contact with contaminated food or water. |
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2. How is Hepatitis A different from Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis A, B and C are liver infections caused by viruses.
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus and spread by eating food or water contaminated by Hepatitis A virus in an infected person’s stools or raw sewage (fecal-oral route or stools to mouth route). It can also be caused by contact with an infected person’s vomit.
Hepatitis B is spread through contact with blood and body fluids of an infected person.
Hepatitis C is caused by the Hepatitis C virus and spread by contact with an infected blood. |
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1. What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is liver infection caused by a virus. It goes away on its own in almost all cases. Hepatitis A doe not lead to long-term liver problems. However, the infection may lead to more severe consequences if people with liver disease or taking medications that strongly affect the liver are infected. |