Hepatitis A is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the liver. While it rarely causes long-term problems, it can make you feel incredibly unwell for weeks—or even months.

In this blog, we’ll explain what hepatitis A is, how to avoid it, and who should consider getting vaccinated—especially if you’re travelling abroad.

🧫 What Is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It spreads mainly through the faecal-oral route, meaning you can catch it by consuming food or water contaminated with the virus, or through close contact with an infected person.

It’s especially common in countries where:

Sanitation is poor
Clean drinking water is limited
Food safety standards are inconsistent

These include areas of:

Asia
Africa
Central and South America
The Middle East
Some Eastern European countries

💡 Unlike hepatitis B, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease. However, it can leave you feeling exhausted and unwell for a long time.

🤒 Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Most children experience mild illness or none at all—but symptoms tend to be more severe in adults, especially those over 50 or with existing liver conditions.

Symptoms usually begin 28–30 days after exposure, and can include:

Sudden fever
Tiredness and weakness
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain
Dark urine
Pale stools
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

In rare cases, hepatitis A can lead to acute liver failure, particularly in older adults or those with other liver problems.

🧼 How to Prevent Hepatitis A

✅ Food & Water Safety When Travelling

Drink only bottled, boiled or filtered water
Avoid ice in drinks unless you know it’s made from purified water
Eat freshly cooked, hot food
Avoid raw salads, shellfish, and unpeeled fruits

🧴 Handwashing and basic hygiene are essential—especially before eating or after using the toilet.

💉 Is There a Hepatitis A Vaccine?

Yes—there are several effective inactivated hepatitis A vaccines available in the UK, including both monovalent and combined Hep A/B vaccines.

Vaccine Type	Brand	Schedule	Age Group
Monovalent Hep A	Avaxim®, Havrix®, VAQTA®	2 doses, 6–18 months apart	1 year and older
Hep A + Hep B (combined)	Twinrix®, Ambirix®	2–4 doses depending on product	Ages 1–15 (Ambirix) and 16+ (Twinrix)

💡 Full immunity is usually achieved 1–2 weeks after the first dose, but a second dose provides long-term protection (up to 25 years or more).

👨‍⚕️ Who Should Get the Hepatitis A Vaccine?

You should consider the Hepatitis A vaccine if you are:

Travelling to high-risk areas
Working in healthcare, sanitation, or aid roles abroad
Injecting drugs
A man who has sex with men (MSM)
Living with chronic liver disease
At risk due to certain occupational exposures

At Ready Health Clinic, we’ll assess your personal risk and recommend the most appropriate vaccine option.

📋 Summary Table

Key Fact	Details
Disease	Hepatitis A (viral liver infection)
Spread by	Faecal-oral route (contaminated food/water, close contact)
Incubation	28–30 days
Common in	Areas with poor sanitation (Asia, Africa, South America, etc.)
Symptoms	Fever, jaundice, fatigue, nausea, dark urine
Vaccine available	Yes – Avaxim®, Havrix®, VAQTA®, Ambirix®, Twinrix®
Booster needed	Yes – usually 6–12 months after first dose

🧳 Planning a Trip? Protect Yourself Before You Go

Hepatitis A can be avoided with good hygiene and effective vaccination. At Ready Health Clinic in Standish, we provide:
✅ Monovalent and combined hepatitis A/B vaccines
✅ Tailored travel consultations
✅ Same-day or next-day appointments
✅ Care for families, solo travellers, and aid workers

📞 Call us today or book online.
📍 Serving Wigan, Chorley, Horwich, Bolton and beyond.