Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an infectious disease of the liver.

How it is spreads

Hepatitis A is usually spread when people ingest the virus after touching an object or consuming food or drink contaminated by an infected person.

It is most commonly spread:

  • through contact with fecal matter of an infected person, changing diapers or cleaning up stool.
  • when someone eats food or drinks something that is contaminated with the hepatitis A virus. Contaminated sources may include water, ice, shellfish (e.g. mussels) or raw or frozen fruits and vegetables.

A person can be contagious even before symptoms appear. Some people who are infected have no symptoms; this is often the case for young children. However, they can still transmit hepatitis A to others.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches and yellowing in the whites of the eyes and skin (jaundice). The illness usually lasts less than 2 months, but can last longer.

 

How to prevent hepatitis A

1. Vaccination

Hepatitis A is an illness that is preventable through vaccination.

The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get vaccinated.

Listen to the testimonial of a person who had hepatitis A in 2021 (in Inuktitut):

 

2. Hand hygiene

Hand hygiene is a great defense against hepatitis A.

Wash your hands:

  • before preparing or eating food
  • after using the washroom
  • after changing diapers