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.

For more information visit the Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand.

About us

Just the Facts is brought to you by the Sexually Transmitted Infections Education Foundation (STIEF) - an initiative funded by the Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ to educate New Zealanders about STIs.

The medical information in Just the Facts is based on the STIEF and NZ Sexual Health Society Guidelines for the management of STIs. Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ supports the use of these clinical guidelines, developed by clinical experts and professional associations to guide clinical care in Aotearoa.

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