Hepatitis A Vaccination

Of the infections avoidable by vaccination, hepatitis A (also called jaundice) is the most common in travellers. Infection occurs through faeces, food, drink and soiled objects.

Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A never leads to a chronic infection. Today, hepatitis A occurs mainly in countries with poor sanitation and moderate hygiene conditions. In the Netherlands, small epidemics occur in schools and nurseries and among men who have sex with men. Furthermore, it occurs in persons who have not been vaccinated and have been on holiday to countries where hepatitis A is common.

Children often have no symptoms of illness. In adults, hepatitis A causes disease symptoms in more than 70% of cases, which can often last for several months. These disease symptoms can be very severe in adults, especially if another form of hepatitis already exists.