What you need
to know about
hepatitis A and B
What are hepatitis A and B?
Hepatitis A and B are two serious liver diseases caused by the hepatitis A and B viruses. These viruses are endemic (constantly present) in much of the developing world. Popular holiday destinations such as the Caribbean are considered risk areas for unprotected travellers, and you could contract hepatitis A or B even at 5-star resorts.
How can I contract
hepatitis A?
You can contract the hepatitis A virus by ingesting food or drinks that have been contaminated by human waste. That means, you could be exposed by:
- Eating food handled by an infected worker who did not wash his/her hands properly after using the washroom
- Eating raw or undercooked seafood and shellfish from sewage-polluted water
- Eating produce (e.g. salad) that has been rinsed in contaminated water
- Swimming in contaminated water
Since you can’t see the hepatitis A virus, you can’t tell by looking whether food is contaminated. Even microscopic amounts of contaminated human waste on food can put you at risk.
How can I contract
hepatitis B?
You can contract hepatitis B by coming into contact with the bodily fluids (e.g. blood, semen, vaginal fluid or saliva) of an infected person. That means, you could be exposed by:
- Getting a manicure, pedicure, tattoo, piercing or acupuncture with improperly sterilized tools
- Having sexual contact with an infected partner
- Giving first aid to, or receiving it from, an infected person
- Having a medical or dental procedure with contaminated equipment
- Sharing personal grooming items (e.g. nail clippers) with an infected person
What are the symptoms of
hepatitis A and B?*
Symptoms of hepatitis A
- Fever
- Nausea
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Uneasiness
- Dark urine
- Fatigue
Symptoms of hepatitis B
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain
What are the possible consequences
of hepatitis A and B?†
Hepatitis A
The illness associated with hepatitis A infection can leave you bedridden for 4-10 weeks, and last for up to a year. While most infected people recover, the older you are, the more severe hepatitis A can be. In fact, 25% of infected adults are hospitalized. Of those, more than 1 in 10 who are over age 60 lose their life to the disease.
Hepatitis B
While most recover, 10% of adults infected with hepatitis B become lifelong "carriers". If this happens, you can pass the virus on to others for the rest of your life without having symptoms yourself. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to severe liver damage, and is the cause of up to 80% of liver cancers.†
*Twinrix® is not indicated to reduce the incidence of symptoms associated with hepatitis A and B.
†Twinrix® is not indicated to reduce the serious consequences associated with hepatitis A and B.