Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a virus that can cause inflammation of the liver. In many cases people may have no symptoms at all but they can still pass the Hepatitis virus to others. Hepatitis A is found in faeces and is spread when you inadvertently ingest the faeces of someone who is infected with it. It is possible to become infected through eating or drinking contaminated food or water but can also be passed on sexually. Any sexual activity where even a tiny amount of someone else’s faeces could enter your mouth could cause infection. Examples of this could be  ‘Rimming’ (using the mouth to stimulate someone else’s anus) or going down on someone who had just had anal sex with someone else. Infection with Hepatitis A is usually mild, but very occasionally causes severe inflammation of the liver, which would require admission to hospital. This is, however, very rare.

Symptoms include:- 

Flu like symptoms

Fatigue

Nausea

Diarrhoea

Vomiting

Loss of appetite

Mild weight loss

Itchy skin

Darker yellow urine

Pale stools

Using new condoms and ensuring careful hand washing after going to the toilet and before eating, can minimise the risk of the virus being passed on. A simple blood test can be carried out to confirm the presence of the hepatitis virus but then in most cases the symptoms of Hepatitis A will settle after a few weeks. For those thought to be at particular at risk of Hepatitis A infection, the doctor may advise you to be immunised

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