Are you looking to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A for your travels? Then look no further than Northern Clinics to help protect you and ensure you have a safe and worry-free trip. Book in today with one of our travel pharmacists who will be happy to help advise you on how best to prepare for your holiday. In this blog, we will delve into the important reasons why vaccination against Hepatitis A is recommended when travelling to many exotic locations. We also have some top tips to share on extra precautions you can take to protect yourself and anyone travelling along with you.
What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is an infection found in the liver which is caused by a virus. It can be found in the poo and blood of an infected person. There are three main ways that it can be spread:
- By eating contaminated food (food touched by an infected person or washed in unclean water)
- By drinking or using contaminated water
- Through close contact with an infected person (this includes sex and sharing needles for drug use)
Symptoms of Hepatitis A can include:
- Feeling generally unwell and tired
- Muscle and joint pain
- A high temperature (fever)
- Diarrhoea or upset tummy
- Feeling or being sick and losing your appetite
- Dark urine or pale coloured stools
- A rash
- Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
Why are vaccines important against Hepatitis A?
Some people who catch the disease will not show any symptoms or they may be mild and clear up within days or weeks. For others though, especially older people or those with a weakened immune system, the disease can be much more serious. In some rare cases, Hepatitis A infection can lead to liver failure.
There is no treatment for Hepatitis A infection so vaccination is your best line of defence. Protection from the vaccine takes around two to four weeks to take effect. This means it’s best to arrange a travel consultation at least six to eight weeks before you jet off. If you are travelling sooner than this, then do still get in touch as we will try to help as best we can.
For those who do choose to get vaccinated, we would highly recommend that you return for a booster dose after six to twelve months. This will help to give you protection against Hepatitis A for up to 25 years.
High risk destinations
Hepatitis A is rare in the UK so vaccination is not normally needed for the general population. It is more commonly found in Asia, Africa, Central America, South America and the Middle East.
Some high-risk travel destinations include:
- Brazil
- India
- Peru
- South Africa
- Thailand
You can visit the Travel Health Pro website to find out if any of the stops on your travel itinerary might require Hepatitis A vaccination.
What else can I do to protect myself?
Strict food, water and hand hygiene are really important to help prevent a range of infectious travel diseases including Hepatitis A. Always remember to thoroughly wash your hands before eating and try to avoid higher-risk foods such as undercooked muscles and oysters. You may also want to avoid foods grown near the ground including fruits like strawberries and salad vegetables which could be washed with unclean water. It’s a good idea to drink only bottled water (and use this for teeth brushing) and avoid ice cubes in drinks as these may be made with unclean water.
Other ways to help reduce your risk of infection include practising safe sex (such as using condoms and dental dams) and avoiding sharing or reusing needles if you are injecting drugs.
Book your travel consultation today
We hope this blog has helped give you an insight into Hepatitis A infection and why it is an important disease to consider getting vaccinated against when travelling to high-risk areas. If you have any further questions or would like to get vaccinated then book an appointment at one of our travel clinics. Our friendly pharmacists have a wealth of knowledge about travel health and would be delighted to answer all of your questions. We look forward to hearing about your upcoming trip and helping you prioritise your health while abroad.
Sources of information
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-a/
https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/disease-prevention-advice/hepatitis-a
This blog was written by Dr Deborah Patton, MPSNI, MPharm, PhD (Community Pharmacist at Northern Pharmacies).
