Should you get the Hep A Vaccine?

First of all, I'd like to apologize for not keeping up with the articles. In the last few months, I have found out 1) I will be moving to San Diego, California, to enter the wonderful world of private practice, 2) Expecting my second child in fall 3) a hospital call every third night in your last year of residency isn't very fun! Anyway, onward and upward for the topic of the day:

Here in Phoenix recently, it seems (at least in my line of thinking) a rash of patients who have or have been contracting Hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is a type of hepatitis that is usually gotten from (attention: grossness alert) eating food or water that was contaminated by feces from a person who has had Hepatitis A. Patients usually experience intense nausea/vomiting, fevers, chills, abdominal pain, yellowing of skin, and complain of dark urine. The good thing is that it is the most "benign" of the hepatitises, in that it generally is self-limiting and does not lead to liver cancer. But it is contagious, and there are certain areas in the country (like here in Arizona) where there are mini-epidemics of this disease. The good news is there a vaccine available. I have recommended that all people (over two years of age) in areas at risk for Hepatitis A be vaccinated. Check with your local health official if you are in an area at risk for Hep A. If you are traveling to an endemic area (such as Mexico) you should also think about having the vaccine. Here are some sites that can give you more information:

Hepatitis A Fact Sheet

Hepatitis Connections - more links on hepatitis.

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