Hepatitis A is Preventable by a Vaccine

What is it?

Hepatitis A is an infection that affects the liver and is spread by a virus in faeces (poo).

How do you catch Hepatitis A virus?

You can catch it when tiny amounts of infected faeces (poo) get into your mouth. People can spread Hepatitis A through food or through sex, especially:

• Anal and oral sex
• Rimming, fingering and fisting
• Handling a condom or sex toy used for anal sex

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis A infection?

The symptoms can appear up to 8 weeks after infection and include:

• Tiredness
• Aches and pains
• Fever, nausea, sickness  and diarrohea
• Jaundice (when the whites of the eyes or the skin go yellow)

A person is infectious two weeks before their symptoms appear until one week after symptoms

• If you think that you are at risk then please discuss vaccination when you next attend your sexual health clinic
• Use condoms or latex barriers for anal sex, rimming or fingering etc.
• Change condoms between anal and oral sex
• Wash hands after handling used condoms and sex toys
• Shower after sex.
• if you need vaccine for travel reasons then please go to your GP or travel clinic

If you develop symptoms of Hepatitis A, you should:

• See your GP (family doctor) or another health care provider for a blood test
• Not prepare food for others and avoid sex until you are no longer infectious
• Inform anyone you have recently had sex with, or other people you share a house with, to see their doctor about having an urgent hepatitis A vaccination.

Find out more about Hepatitis A by visiting:

http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/lgbhealth/pages/sexualhealthgaymen.aspx#hepa

http://www.tht.org.uk/sexual-health/About-STIs/Hepatitis/Hepatitis-A