References
Prescribing hepatitis A vaccines in the UK
Abstract
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus that is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food and water or from direct contact (including some types of sexual contact) with an infected person. Hepatitis A virus infection causes liver inflammation that usually results in a mild illness. More rarely, severe symptoms with the potential to develop into liver failure can occur. UK health professionals involved in prescribing hepatitis A vaccines should make sure they are familiar with appropriate vaccine guidance and use current UK hepatitis A vaccine recommendations for international travel as part of their risk assessment. Although most people respond well to the hepatitis A vaccine, the importance of food and water hygiene should still be emphasised to all UK travellers visiting hepatitis A endemic areas.
The hepatitis A virus is usually spread via exposure to contaminated food and water or direct contact with an infected person and can cause debilitating symptoms, although most people fully recover. However, very rarely, hepatitis A infection can cause acute liver failure (fulminant hepatitis), which is often fatal. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2023) estimates that in 2016, a total of 7134 people died from hepatitis A worldwide (accounting for 0.5% of global mortality due to viral hepatitis).
Hepatitis A is closely associated with unsafe water or food, inadequate sanitation, poor personal hygiene and oral–anal sex (WHO, 2023). Improved standards of living and hygiene have led to a marked fall in locally acquired hepatitis A infection in the UK, although behavioural risk factors can increase risk, and cases continue to be reported in returning travellers (UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 2024a).
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