Medications
Although no medicine can treat HAV
symptoms after they develop, the hepatitis A vaccine is the most effective
means of preventing
hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. The vaccine
provides 94% to 100% protection if you receive both of the shots in the
vaccination series.6 But the vaccine may not be as
effective in those with weakened
immune systems, such as people who have
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).6
If you have had close personal contact with
someone who has hepatitis A, you should get the hepatitis A vaccine or a shot
of
immune globulin (IG). If you receive either the
vaccine or IG within 2 weeks of being exposed to HAV, you probably will not
develop symptoms of HAV infection.5
IG is
also recommended for:
- People who are known to be allergic to other
vaccines containing the same ingredients found in the hepatitis A
vaccine.
- Children younger than age 1 who have not been immunized
with the
hepatitis A vaccine
(What is a PDF document?) and have been exposed to HAV, particularly children who spend
time in day care centers.
Medication Choices
-
hepatitis A vaccine
(What is a PDF document?)
-
Immune globulin
For more information about the hepatitis A vaccines, see
the Prevention section of this topic.
What To Think About
Immune globulin has been
effective in controlling some outbreaks of the hepatitis A virus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007).
Viral Hepatitis A Fact Sheet. Available online:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/fact.htm.
Bell BP, et al. (2004). Hepatitis A virus. In RD
Feigin et al., eds., Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 5th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2069–2086. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Bell BP, et al. (2005). Hepatitis A virus. In GL Mandell et al., eds., Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th edition, vol. 2, pp. 2162–2185. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006). Prevention of hepatitis A through active or passive immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR, 55 (RR-7): 1–23. Also available online: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5507.pdf.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007).
Update: Prevention of hepatitis A after exposure to hepatitis A virus and in
international travelers. Updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR, 56(RR-41):
1080–1084. Also available online:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5641a3.htm.
American Academy of Pediatrics (2006). Hepatitis A. In
LK Pickering et al., eds., Red Book: 2006 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 27th ed., pp. 326–335. Elk Grove
Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008).
Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0–18 years—United States,
2008. MMWR, 57(01): Q1–Q4. Also available online:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm5701-immunization.pdf. [Erratum in
MMWR, 57(12): 319. Also available online:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5712a6.htm.]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006).
Hepatitis A vaccine: What you need to know. Vaccine Information Statement. Department of Health and Human Services, National
Immunization Program (3/21/06). Available online:
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-hep-a.pdf.
Leder K, et al. (2001). Travel vaccines and elderly
persons: Review of vaccines available in the United States. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 33(9): 1553–1566.
Victor JC, et al. (2007). Hepatitis A vaccine versus
immune globulin for postexposure prophylaxis. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(17): 1685–1694.