About 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.

Hepatitis is a serious disease caused by a virus. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, or death.

Hepatitis A vaccine

This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small amount of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Children need 2 doses of Hepatitis A vaccine

First dose: 12 through 23 months of age

Second dose: At least 6 months after the first dose

Side Effects

• Fever.
• Irritability.
• drowsiness.
• Loss of appetite.
• Headache.
• Swelling, tenderness, redness, or warmth where the shot was given.

When should I call a paediatrician?

• Extreme drowsiness, fainting.
• Fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer.
• Seizures.
• High fever (within a few hours or a few days after the vaccine).