Hepatitis A Prevention

Prevention against HAV

Vaccination against hepatitis A is the best way to prevent it. More than 99% of people who are vaccinated develop immunity against the virus, so, even if they would be exposed to it, they will never get infected with hepatitis A virus.

Another way to prevent infection with hepatitis A virus is injection of immune globulin (also called gamma globulin). Using immune globulin injection you are not protected forever, you are protected just for a short period of time. Immune globulin is a preparation which contains a high level of antibodies to hepatitis A virus and it's usually administrated to persons exposed to the virus. For the best effect, it should be given within 2 weeks from the exposure, but it's also very efficient if it is administrated within two to six weeks after possible exposure to HAV.

The third way to prevent infection (less efficient than the first two) with hepatitis A is related to a rigorous personal hygiene and a healthy life style. Among the measures one should take we find:

• Washing hands with water and soap after every using of the bathroom, before and after preparing and eating food or after changing a diaper;
• Avoiding undercooked or raw shellfish;
• Using protection (a latex barrier) during anal or oral sex.

 

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