Hepatitis A

Liver

What is hepatitis?

The liver is an organ that helps the body digest food. It also removes waste and toxins and stores energy. Hepatitis means that there is inflammation of the liver. Some causes of hepatitis include bacterial or viral infection, drugs (including alcohol), toxins or parasites. Hepatitis affects the liver's ability to function well.

There are several types of viruses that lead to hepatitis. This page is about hepatitis A, the most common type affecting children.

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis A

In young children, most hepatitis A infections are mild. Children may not show any signs or symptoms.

Older children may show some of the following signs and symptoms:

• extreme tiredness
• flu-like symptoms of fever, headache and weakness
• nausea and vomiting
• abdominal discomfort
• pain in the area of the liver on the right side beneath the lower ribs
• poor appetite
• dark urine
• muscle pain
• itching
• yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)

Causes of hepatitis A: contaminated food and drink

People usually catch the hepatitis A virus when they swallow small amounts of fecal matter (stool, or poo) in food or drink. Most often, this means drinking contaminated water, or eating foods that have not been washed properly. Foods such as raw or undercooked shellfish, fruits or raw vegetables, are the most common source. The hepatitis A virus then infects the liver.

Here are some common ways children are infected by the hepatitis A virus:

• When someone handles the food your child eats without properly washing their hands after changing diapers or going to the washroom.
• By drinking contaminated water, including ice cubes.
• By eating seafood from contaminated water.
• By exchanging bodily fluids with an infected person.

Treatment of hepatitis A: Bed rest and fluids

Your health-care provider will advise you on how to take care of your child at home. Let your child rest and stay in bed if they are tired and weak. Offer your child many small servings of water to prevent dehydration, especially if your child is vomiting.

Postexposure prophylaxis is recommended as soon as possible for those who have been exposed to hepatitis A virus within the past 2 weeks and who have not previously received hepatitis A vaccine. For children older than 6 months, they should receive the hepatitis A vaccine. For children younger than 6 months of age, they should receive human immunoglobulin.

Your child's body will likely clear the virus on its own with rest and hydration. Most children will heal in one or two months with no permanent damage to the liver. Less than 1% of children could develop liver failure as a result of hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is usually a short-term infection and does not become chronic (like hepatitis B or hepatitis C).

Preventing hepatitis A with vaccine and proper hygiene

A vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis A and B infection. It is approved for use in children starting at age one and it is delivered in two doses. Your health-care provider may suggest that the rest of the family get immunized to stop the virus from spreading. Adults are often more severely affected by hepatitis A than children. Washing hands thoroughly and ensuring that food is cooked properly under hygienic conditions can also help stop the virus from spreading.

Your health-care provider may also suggest the vaccine for your family if you are planning to visit a country where the disease is widespread.