Which information would the nurse teach the patient to prevent contraction of hepatitis a?

Overview

Hepatitis A is a virus that can infect the liver. Most people who get it get better within 3 months and don't have liver problems later.

This virus is found in stool (feces). You can get it if you eat food or drink water that was in contact with infected stool. You can also get it from close contact with an infected person.

Common symptoms include feeling tired or having yellow eyes and skin (jaundice). They also include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and a severe loss of water (dehydration).

Some people don't notice any symptoms for up to 30 days. But even without symptoms, you still can give the infection to other people.

Some people get a shot if they know they were exposed to the virus in the past 2 weeks. Ask your doctor if you need a hepatitis A vaccine or an immunoglobulin shot. These may prevent getting infected with hepatitis A.

After you get hepatitis A one time, you can't get it again. But you can still get other types of hepatitis.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Be more active as you feel better.
• Avoid alcohol for 2 to 3 months. It can make liver problems worse.
• Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), for example, can make liver problems worse. Don't take new medicines unless your doctor says it's okay.
• Take your medicines exactly as prescribed.
• If you have nausea or vomiting, eat smaller meals and eat more often.
• Drink plenty of fluids. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids.
• If you have itchy skin, avoid the sun. Wear cotton clothes. Talk to your doctor about medicines for itching.

To avoid spreading hepatitis A

• Wash your hands with soap and clean, running water after you use the toilet and before you prepare or eat food.
• Tell those you live with or have had sex with that you have hepatitis A. They may need a shot to prevent infection.
• Don't have sex for up to 2 weeks after getting sick.
• Tell health care professionals who may come in contact with your blood or stool about your illness.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• You passed out (lost consciousness).
• You vomit blood or what looks like coffee grounds.
• You are suddenly confused and cannot think clearly.

Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You are dizzy or light-headed, or you feel like you may faint.
• You have signs of needing more fluids. You have sunken eyes, a dry mouth, and pass only a little urine.
• You have nausea and vomiting that does not go away.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:

• You do not get better as expected.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

Enter R693 in the search box to learn more about "Hepatitis A: Care Instructions".

Last Reviewed: February 2007

• Versión en español
• More information on hepatitis

What is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease that attacks the liver. It is the most common type of hepatitis reported in the United States.

Who gets hepatitis A?

Anyone can get hepatitis A, but certain persons are at increased risk of infection, including:

• Children and adults living in areas with increased rates of hepatitis (i.e., certain Western states in the U.S.)
• Persons traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common (i.e., Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Western Pacific)
• Men who have sex with men
• Injecting and non-injecting drug users
• Sexual contacts of infected persons
• Household contacts of infected persons

How is the virus spread?

Hepatitis A virus is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. This type of transmission is called the "fecal-oral" route. For this reason, the virus is more easily spread in areas where there are poor sanitary conditions or where good personal hygiene is not observed.

Most infections in the United States result from contact with a household member or sex partner who has hepatitis A.Hepatitis A virus may also be spread by consuming food or drink that has been handled by an infected person. Waterborne outbreaks are infrequent and are usually associated with sewage-contaminated or inadequately treated water. Casual contact, as in the office, factory or school setting, does not spread the virus.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

The symptoms of hepatitis A may include an abrupt onset of fever, malaise, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, dark-colored urine and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes). The disease is rarely fatal and most people recover in a few weeks without any complications. Adults have signs and symptoms of illness more often than children. Infants and young children tend to have very mild symptoms and are less likely to develop jaundice than are older children and adults. Not everyone who is infected will have all of the symptoms.

How soon do symptoms appear?

The symptoms commonly appear within 28 days of exposure, with a range of 15-50 days.

For how long is an infected person able to spread the virus?

The contagious period begins one to two weeks before symptoms appear, and is minimal about one week after the onset of jaundice. Food workers should be excluded from work for at least two weeks after the onset of clinical symptoms of hepatitis A. If jaundiced, food workers should not return to work for at least one week after onset of jaundice.

Does past infection with hepatitis A make a person immune?

Once an individual recovers from hepatitis A, he or she cannot be re-infected. He or she is immune for life and does not continue to carry the virus.

What is the treatment for hepatitis A?

There are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to treat a person once the symptoms appear.

How can hepatitis A be prevented?

To prevent person-to-person spread, careful hand washing after using the bathroom, changing diapers and before preparing or eating food, is the single most important means of prevention.

Foodborne hepatitis A outbreaks are relatively uncommon in the United States; however, when they occur, intensive public health efforts are required for their control. To prevent the spread of hepatitis A from an infected food worker to co-workers and/or restaurant patrons, food workers should never touch ready-to-eat foods with bare hands, and should carefully wash their hands after using the bathroom, even if the food worker does not feel sick. Food workers should never work while they are sick with stomach (gastrointestinal) illnesses.

Immune globulin shots are effective in preventing the spread of hepatitis A if given within 14 days of exposure. Immune globulin may be recommended for co-workers of infected food workers. Under certain circumstances, particularly when recommended food safety procedures are not followed by food workers, public health officials may recommend that restaurant patrons receive immune globulin.

For long-term protection, hepatitis A vaccine is the best method of prevention.

Who should obtain the hepatitis A vaccine?

Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for the following persons:

• Travelers to areas with increased rates of hepatitis A
• Men who have sex with men
• Injecting and non-injecting drug users
• Persons with clotting-factor disorders (e.g., hemophilia)
• Persons with chronic liver disease (including persons with chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C virus infection)
• All children aged 12-23 months; children not fully vaccinated by age two

The hepatitis A vaccine may also be used in certain outbreak situations where ongoing transmission is occurring. Although studies of certain occupational groups (for example, food service workers, health care workers, child care workers, sewerage workers) have not shown an increased risk, such people may consider vaccination if they wish to further reduce their risk or are in communities where ongoing outbreaks are occurring.

Why isn't hepatitis A vaccine required for food service workers?

While food service employers can offer hepatitis A vaccine to their employees if they wish, most public health authorities prefer not to make it mandatory for the following reasons:

• There is no evidence that food service workers are at any greater risk of acquiring hepatitis A than are people in other occupations.
• Only 2-3 percent of all hepatitis A cases are acquired through restaurant food.
• Employee turnover in some segments of the food service industry is high, making it impractical to vaccinate staff.
• Emphasis on careful hand washing, use of disposable gloves and not working when ill are measures that can greatly minimize the risk of spreading hepatitis A and a number of other infections.
• Hepatitis A vaccine would be strongly recommended for food service workers in a county or region where a community-wide outbreak has been recognized.

What about the vaccine?

Currently, there are two hepatitis A vaccines on the market. Both vaccines are safe and highly effective. Two doses given at least six months apart, are recommended. Approximately 99-100 percent of persons vaccinated with hepatitis A vaccine will develop long-lasting immunity.

Where can I obtain more information?

People interested in receiving the vaccine should contact their health care provider or employer. For general information, please call your local health department.

What are the prevention of hepatitis A?

Which priority teaching information should the nurse discuss with the client to help prevent contracting hepatitis A?

How is hepatitis A transmitted and what is the best way to prevent it?

How can you protect yourself from contracting hepatitis?