Tou+PrEP Clinic
Online PrEP & Doxy-PEP, delivered province-wide
Our virtual clinic simplifies everything: get your prescription and follow-ups, with your medication delivered quickly and discreetly.
Hepatitis A & B: Understanding the risks and how to protect yourself
Hepatitis A and B are two distinct viral infections that both attack the liver. Although they share a similar name, they are not transmitted in the same way and do not have the same long-term consequences.
The good news is that there is very effective protection against both: vaccination. Understanding their differences is the first step to protecting yourself well.
Transmission: A fundamental difference
Hepatitis A (HAV): The fecal-oral route
The hepatitis A virus is transmitted by ingesting water or food contaminated with fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts. It can also be transmitted during sexual contact, notably oral-anal relations (anilingus).
Hepatitis B (HBV): Contact with blood and bodily fluids
The hepatitis B virus is much more resilient and is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids: blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. Modes of transmission include unprotected sexual intercourse and sharing of injection equipment.
Symptoms and complications: Acute vs. Chronic
Often, both infections can go unnoticed. When symptoms do appear, they are similar for both: fatigue, fever, nausea, and jaundice.
The major difference lies in their progression:
- Hepatitis A is an acute infection. The body generally gets rid of it in a few weeks and it never becomes chronic.
- Hepatitis B can become a chronic infection, which can lead to serious long-term health problems like cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Prevention: Vaccination, your best protection
Vaccination is by far the simplest and most effective way to protect yourself long-term against hepatitis A and B.
- Highly effective vaccines exist for each virus individually.
- The combined Twinrix® vaccine is a very practical option that protects you against both viruses at the same time.
- Vaccination is particularly recommended for travelers and for gay men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). For several of these groups, the vaccination is offered for free by the Quebec public health program.
To learn more, consult our complete page on [our vaccination services].
Is there a treatment?
Antiviral treatments can stop the replication of the hepatitis B virus and delay the progression to a chronic infection, but these treatments are not always effective.
There is no treatment for hepatitis A, but the good news is that the body is capable of curing it after a few months.
Conclusion: A simple step to protect your liver
Hepatitis A and B are serious infections, but prevention is accessible and highly effective. Vaccination is a simple and safe investment in the long-term health of your liver.
Do not hesitate to discuss your situation with one of our pharmacists to check if your vaccination record is up to date or to [make an appointment for your vaccines].
