Vaccination
Hepatitis A & B
Why get vaccinated?
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. It is usually spread through close, personal contact with an infected person or when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks that are contaminated by small amounts of stool (poop) from an infected person.
Most adults with hepatitis A have symptoms:
– fatigue
– Loss of appetite
– stomach pain
– nausea
– jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine)
Most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms.
A person infected with hepatitis A can transmit the disease to other people even if he or she does not have any symptoms of the disease. Most people who get hepatitis A feel sick for several weeks, but they usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage. In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and death; this is more common in people older than 50 years and in people with other liver diseases.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can cause mild illness lasting a few weeks, or it can lead to a serious, lifelong illness.
Acute hepatitis B infection is a short-term illness that can lead to:
– fever
– fatigue
– loss of appetite
– nausea
– vomiting
– jaundice (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine)
– pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach
Chronic hepatitis B infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the hepatitis B virus remains in a person’s body. Most people who go on to develop chronic hepatitis B do not have symptoms, but it is still very serious and can lead to liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer, and death. Chronically infected people can spread hepatitis B virus to others, even if they do not feel or look sick themselves.
Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected through:
– Birth (if a pregnant person has hepatitis B, their baby can become infected)
– Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person
– Contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
– Sex with an infected partner
– Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
– Exposure to blood from needle sticks or other sharp instruments
Most people who are vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine are immune for life.
Frequently Asked Question
By a simple blood test.
It can take approximately 3 weeks for the test results
During the Pap smear test, a small brush is used to gently remove cells and mucus from the surface of the cervix and the area around it. The cells and mucus will then be sent to the lab for further analysis.