title: Preventing hepatitis A infections in travelers to endemic areas.
abstract: In 1995, 24 million travelers from the United States are anticipated to visit developing countries where hepatitis A is endemic. Passive immunization with immune globulin, before exposure or within two weeks following exposure to the hepatitis A virus, protects against clinical disease in < 70-90% of immunized individuals. The duration of protection, measured in months, is relatively short. Active immunization with a single dose of inactivated hepatitis A virus vaccine appears to provide greater protective efficacy and, based on the persistence of vaccine-induced protective antibodies, should provide protection for years. Booster doses given between six and 12 months are likely to provide immunity that may persist for at least a decade. The inactivated hepatitis A vaccine approved for use in the United States has been clinically well-tolerated; mild transient soreness at the injection site is the most frequently reported adverse reaction. Immunization with inactivated hepatitis A vaccine is a safe and effective method for travelers to endemic areas to protect themselves against this infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Koff
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000191:economics; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines