Vacation planning Before going on holiday, consider the hepatitis vaccine

Vacation time: Health experts advise certain travelers to hepatitis vaccine

Soon the summer holidays begin in some federal states. In order not to come back ill from the "most beautiful time of the year", holiday makers should make provisions and inform themselves about the necessary vaccinations against infectious diseases - and if necessary get vaccinated. In particular, protection against infection with hepatitis viruses is often important.

Healthy return from vacation

Soon the summer holiday season will start in the first federal states and many holidaymakers will spend the "most beautiful time of the year" abroad. Actually, a vacation should make you happy and healthy. Unfortunately, travel abroad sometimes causes illness. Vaccinations are available against some infectious diseases. Tourists should therefore inform themselves before departure about the necessary and recommended for the destination vaccinations - and get vaccinated if necessary. What is not known to many: Infection risks for the infection with hepatitis viruses already exist in the near Mediterranean region. The German Liver Foundation therefore states in a recent communication, how important the vaccine protection against infection with hepatitis viruses is especially for travelers.

Soon is summer vacation time. Holidaymakers should inform themselves in advance about the necessary and recommended travel vaccinations and get vaccinated if necessary. Especially the protection against hepatitis viruses is often important. (Image: Adam Gregor / fotolia.com)

Every second hepatitis A virus infection is an unwanted travel souvenir

The expectations that travelers have for a perfect holiday are very different. Some are looking for relaxation, others want to move more and then there are also the tourists looking for maximum fun.

However different the claims may be, all travelers have one thing in common: to return home healthy.

In order to ensure this and the liver is as virus-free on return as on arrival, travelers should be informed about risk areas, infection routes and protection options.

"More than half of all newly diagnosed hepatitis A virus infections in Germany are an unwanted travel souvenir," says Professor Dr. med. Michael P. Manns, CEO of the German Liver Foundation and adds:

"Hepatitis A is called 'travel hepatitis'. It often occurs in popular holiday destinations with low standards of hygiene such as the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, Russia, Africa, Central and South America and the Middle East. "

Transmission due to lubrication or contact infection

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted fecally-orally through lubrication or contact infection. The pathogen is excreted by infected persons through the intestine and has a pronounced environmental stability as well as high thermal stability and disinfectant resistance.

For example, eating inadequately cooked vegetables or drinking contaminated or contaminated drinking water (even as ice cubes) can lead to infection with the HAV.

This infection with HAV can cause acute liver inflammation, which is not chronic and often heals in healthy people without serious complications.

The symptoms are mostly nonspecific and can include fever as well as "jaundice". In rare cases, such as in the elderly, hepatitis A can also lead to acute liver failure.

Prophylactic vaccination before departure

There is no specific therapy for hepatitis A. Prophylactic vaccination - which can be done shortly before departure - is the safest protection.

For the primary vaccination two vaccinations are required. "The protective effect begins twelve to fifteen days after the first vaccination," explains the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) on its website. "After the second vaccination, the vaccine protection will last at least ten years."

Even against the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can pose a further risk of infection on vacation, a vaccine is the safest protection. When using combination vaccines that protect against hepatitis A and B, the number of injections required is reduced.

With the vaccine against hepatitis B even a double protection is guaranteed: The vaccine against HBV also protects against the hepatitis delta, since there can only be hepatitis delta with hepatitis B..

Unhygienic conditions in the country of destination

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 240 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HBV. Infection with HBV occurs via body secretions such as blood, semen or saliva.

In addition to unprotected sex tattoos or piercings, which are not sterile, count among the most common transmission routes.

Contact with the risk of minor skin injuries such as the barber, in the case of pedicure or in case of unforeseen medical and dental treatment is also a risk of infection if unhygienic conditions prevail in the country of destination.

Most infected people do not notice their illness. However, if chronic liver inflammation occurs, there is an increased risk of connective tissue changes in the liver (fibrosis) or cirrhosis.

Early diagnosis is the prerequisite for successful treatment

There is no vaccine against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), another hepatitis agent. The HCV is transmitted almost exclusively via blood contacts.

Non-sterile tattoo needles, piercings or razors are the main sources of infection. In some regions of Asia or Africa, more than five percent of the population carries the hepatitis C virus.

Today there are very effective therapies for hepatitis C. The cure rates are usually between 90 and 100 percent. However, the disease is often recognized late and can lead untreated in cirrhosis or hepatocellular cancer and thus end in death.

Recognizing hepatitis in good time can even be lifesaving in exceptional cases.

In hepatitis, depending on the type of virus different symptoms may occur, but at the beginning usually show more general symptoms such as fatigue, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, fever and vomiting.

Later, other typical signs such as dark urine, a light bowel movement and yellow eyes or skin ("jaundice") may be added.

According to the WHO, about 71 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HCV. Chronic hepatitis C is the second leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cell cancer in Germany after fatty liver hepatitis.

"For all infections with a hepatitis virus, the early discovery is the prerequisite for successful treatment. The best protection of your health is avoiding an infection. Vaccination and precautionary measures help travelers to return as healthy as they were at the start of their journey, "says Professor Manns. (Ad)