How to Recognize Side Effects From Hepatitis A Vaccine

It’s a health condition that you can have and recover from without ever knowing you were infected. Yet hepatitis A is nothing to take lightly. It’s a serious liver disease caused by a virus that is spread through unprotected sex , sharing needles or being stuck with a used needle on the job. If you’ve ever had hepatitis A, you’ll never be infected again because once you have it, you’re immune for life. If not, you may opt for the hepatitis A vaccine. If you do, you need to know how to recognize the side effects.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

How to Recognize Side Effects From Hepatitis A Vaccine

1. Only get vaccinated if you are healthy. It’s okay to get a shot if you just have a cold. But if you are moderately to severely ill, postpone the shot. This will allow your immune system to use all of its resources to fight off the illness. And this can eliminate any confusion over whether you are experiencing side effects from the vaccination or complications from the illness you already have.
2. Be aware of serious side effects. These include swelling of the lips, tongue or face, difficulty breathing, closing of the throat, hives, paleness, weakness, dizziness, a fast heart beat within a few hours or minutes after the shot, high fever or change in behavior. If you experience any of these side effects, contact your doctor immediately.
3. Look out for the less serious side effects. They include mild to moderate fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, headache, soreness where the shot was given that lasts for more than one day.

Tips & Warnings

• Before getting hepatitis A vaccine, tell your doctor if you have had an allegoric reaction to vaccines, other medicines, preservatives or dyes.
• Tell your doctor if you have HIV or AIDS, are taking steroids or anti-rejection medications, have a bleeding disorder, blood disease, heart disease or cancer.