Recovery from a severe case can last months, and while fatalities due to liver damage do occur, they are rare. Infection usually causes illness in adults and school-age children, but is often asymptomatic in younger children and may be mistaken for the flu and general malaise. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A, but supportive treatment is given to address the symptoms. Full recovery is common. Hepatitis A infection confers lifelong immunity in individuals who have been infected.
Vaccines There are four hepatitis A vaccines licensed in Canada.
The vaccines are safe, provide long-lasting protection and are interchangeable. They are all given in two doses, with the second dose administered 6 months after the first. ISG provides protection from hepatitis A for 4 to 6 months. A travel health clinic or family physician will recommend which immunization is appropriate for individual circumstances. Most travellers are at low risk of acquiring HAV infection.