HEPATITIS A
What is it?
Hepatitis A is a viral infection affecting the liver.
How do you get it?
Hepatitis A can be spread by unprotected sex which involves oral to anal contact. You can also get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water and by not washing your hands after the toilet or before touching food.
Symptoms
Although there are often no symptoms, these can include yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, dark urine, mild flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain and nausea.
Is it serious?
Hepatitis A can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months but doesn’t lead to long-term chronic illness or liver damage.
How do you get tested?
Hepatitis A can be confirmed by a blood test. Find a local clinic now.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for the hepatitis A infection. Please see your nurse, doctor or
sexual health clinic for advice regarding what medication to take to relieve pain and fever. A well balanced, low-fat diet should be eaten during recovery and alcohol and drugs should be avoided.
Prevention
Hepatitis A immunisation prevents infection. Partners should also be immunised for prevention. Talk to your nurse, doctor or sexual health clinic about getting immunised.
Telling your sexual partner/s
If you are diagnosed with hepatitis A, anal sex should also be avoided with sexual partner/s until you have recovered.
