Holiday season: high season for hepatitis
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.Most holidaymakers underestimate the risk of hepatitis when traveling abroad. Experts from the German Liver Foundation therefore recommend a vaccination - even shortly before your vacation.
"Every main travel season is also a main hepatitis season," says Prof. Michael Manns, Chairman of the Board of the German Liver Foundation. Hepatitis A in particular has become a travel sickness in Germany. "More than half of the hepatitis A virus infections that occur were acquired while traveling," warns the doctor. There is also a risk of hepatitis B infection in countries with poor hygienic conditions. A vaccination effectively protects against hepatitis A and B. Even shortly before you start your journey, it is not too late for this.
Hepatitis A: Seafood and Co.
The hepatitis A virus is eliminated through the intestines - and it is extremely resistant. Even many disinfectants cannot harm it. One is infected by smear infection or through contaminated food - fish and seafood in particular often carry the germs, but contaminated vegetables are also a source of infection. If the food is consumed raw or undercooked, there is a high risk of infection.
The first symptoms to appear are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, upper abdominal pain and joint or muscle pain. After two to eight weeks, the liver enlarges, and the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow due to stored bilirubin. In addition, the patients suffer from severe itching.
Hepatitis B: Sex, Tattoos, and Foot Care
In addition to hepatitis A, hepatitis B is also feared, with which one can become infected on vacation just as at home. This virus is infected through infected blood, semen or vaginal secretions. The most common transmission route is unprotected sex. But also tattoos, ear piercing
or piercings that are not performed sterile are risky. The smallest skin injuries that occur, for example, when shaving the neck at the hairdresser's, during foot care or during unforeseen medical treatments, also harbor a risk of infection if there are no hygienic conditions.
In many cases, hepatitis B infection goes unnoticed. In some, however, a chronic inflammation of the liver develops, which can lead to cirrhosis and later liver cancer.
Effective combined vaccination
Combination vaccines offer effective protection against both virus forms. They protect against re-infection for many years. The vaccination is carried out in three stages: the first two injections are given one month apart; the third comes after another five months.
Healthy adults can also get an express vaccination, with the second vaccination after seven days and the third after 21 days. A vaccination against hepatitis C is not yet available.
Source: Press release of the German Liver Foundation, July 12, 2016
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