Heptatitis A
How it’s spread
The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a common infection in many parts of the world. It is possible to become infected through eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
The hepatitis virus is found in faeces. It can be passed on if even a tiny amount of faeces from a person with hepatitis A comes into contact with another person’s mouth.
This means the virus can also be passed on sexually through practices such as rimming. Personal hygiene, with careful hand washing, can minimise the risk of the virus being passed on.
Signs and symptoms
People may have no symptoms at all, but they can still pass on the hepatitis virus to others. Symptoms may include:
* a short, mild, flu-like illness
* nausea and vomiting
* diarrhoea
* loss of appetite
* weight loss
* jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale faeces)
* itchy skin.
Some people may need to be admitted to hospital.
Where to go for help
* Your local NHS sexual health (GUM) clinic.
You can find details of your nearest NHS sexual health clinic in the phone book under genito-urinary medicine (GUM), sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or venereal diseases (VD). Or phone your local hospital and ask for the ’special’ or GUM clinic. Our help and advice page links to websites which can tell you where to find your nearest clinic.
You will get free, confidential advice and treatment. You can go to any NHS clinic anywhere in the country - you don’t have to go to a local one - and you don’t have to be referred by your GP. (Non-NHS sexual health clinics may not always offer the full range of services which are available at NHS sexual health clinics.)
* If you are in the UK, go to www.playingsafely.co.uk to find details of STD clinics.