What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a type of inflammatory liver disease, usually self limiting. This affects normal functioning of liver and causes its swelling. Hepatitis A is responsible for death of approximately hundred people every year. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2005, nearly 4500 cases of hepatitis A were reported.

Causes of Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by Hepatitis A virus which is extremely contagious and can live in soil, in water and on hands. The virus can transmit through stools and blood of infected person, feces, drinking contaminated water, improper personal hygiene, eating undercooked or raw food/shell fishes, etc.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A
The symptoms can last for one to two weeks. While in some acute cases, it may last for several months. The severity of symptoms generally increases with age. Some of the common symptoms of hepatitis A are listed as under:

• Mild to medium Fever
• Vomiting and Nausea
• Jaundice
• Appetite loss
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Muscle pain

Hepatitis A Vaccine
According to CDC, all children between the age of 1-2 years, those with chronic liver disease or blood clotting disorders, users of illegal drugs, those working in close proximity of HAV virus or living in communities where there is an outbreak need protection from hepatitis A.

Currently, four inactivated hepatitis A vaccines are available internationally. All of these vaccines are similar in terms of potency and side effects. The two doses are injected into the muscle of the upper arm (adults and older children) and thigh (toddlers) 6 months apart. It is estimated that the two doses can give protection up to a minimum of 25 years in case of adults and 14-20 years in case of children.

The side effects may begin 3-5 days after vaccination. Among the side effects, the most common is sore arms lasting for one or two days. Other minor side effects may include loss of appetite, headache, mild fever or tiredness.

Experts find hepatitis A vaccination to be very effective. But, it is also recommended that those who have had severe allergic reaction to hepatitis A vaccination before may want to stay away from it. Further, those with moderate to severe acute illness may want to wait till their conditions improve before getting HAV.