Question 1

is there a vacination for hep a?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely...: Hepatitis a vaccine, combined with hepatitis b vaccine, is easily administered, readily available, and highly recommended if you  haven't already developed antibodies from past viral exposure.  Ask your primary provider or local health department to administer it.

Question 2

how do you get hep a?

Accepted Answer

Fecal/oral: Oral intake of contaminated food or water, often bad shellfish, or bad hygiene.

Question 3

how long is recovery for hep a?

Accepted Answer

Two weeks: Hep.A can make you very sick, but 99/ recover completely and become permanently immune to it. Recovery may take up to 2 to 3 weeks.

Question 4

if you had hep a can you catch it again?

Accepted Answer

You have an army now: Hepatitis A is a highly contagious virus that attacks the liver.  You get it from contaminated food or water. Once you get it, the body makes antibodies (our fighting army)  to fight another exposure of the virus.  Just as when we immunize a patient with the vaccine, exposure to the virus initially  gives us an immunity to Hep A.  Most recover without problems.

Question 5

should i take hep a and b shots even though i'm health?

Accepted Answer

Hep B is generally: recommended.

It can even be sexually transmitted.
Hep A is very contagious, but not very common. If you are traveling overseas, probably recommended, otherwise it is not generally given.

If a health care worker or have blood/needle exposure obviously hep B vaccination is very very important.

Question 6

what does a positive abnormal hep a ab, total mean?

Accepted Answer

Uncertain: The total hep A AB measures both the IgM that is elevated around the time of infection, and the IgG that is elevated for the rest of your life starting several weeks after your exposure to the virus.  To really get useful information, you have to separate the IgG and the IgM.  It may be possible to do that on the blood sample the lab already has, without getting blood drawn again.

Question 7

can you get hep a and b from eating unwashed fruit or veggies?

Accepted Answer

Hep.A: You can potentially get hepatitis A from unwashed food, but not HepB.  That is transferred by direct contact with body fluids including blood.

Question 8

i shouldn't expect anything reaction from hep b or hep a shots, right?

Accepted Answer

Hep A and B vaccines: Hepatitis a and b vaccines are safe and usually do not give adverse reactions other than local redness/tenderness and a feeling of malaise lasting no more than 24 hours.

Question 9

is it possible to get hep a, b, or c by eating or drinking after the carrier ?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Hepatitis is a virus and can be transmitted orally as well as sexually.

Question 10

i have a "positive abnormal" hep a ab, total result. do i have it & what should i do?

Accepted Answer

Need more info: Interpreting blood antibody results for all the various hepatitis diagnoses (a, b, c, d etc) is fraught with pitfalls. To answer your question the specific lab results (and technical description of what was ordered) are needed.

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Doctor answers about:

Hep A

A member asked:

Is there a vacination for hep a?

A member asked:

How do you get hep a?

A member asked:

How long is recovery for hep a?

A member asked:

If you had hep a can you catch it again?

A member asked:

Should i take hep a and b shots even though i'm health?

A member asked:

What does a positive abnormal hep a ab, total mean?

A member asked:

Can you get hep a and b from eating unwashed fruit or veggies?

A member asked:

I shouldn't expect anything reaction from hep b or hep a shots, right?

A member asked:

Is it possible to get hep a, b, or c by eating or drinking after the carrier ?

A member asked:

I have a "positive abnormal" hep a ab, total result. do i have it & what should i do?

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