What should you know about hepatitis A and typhoid?

Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. Typhoid is a bacterial infection that can cause a prolonged fever and illness affecting the whole body. Shared early features may include feeling generally unwell, nausea, reduced appetite, abdominal discomfort, or fever, so symptoms alone cannot reliably distinguish them. Hepatitis A may later cause yellowing of the skin or eyes and dark urine. Typhoid can cause marked fatigue and digestive symptoms. Travel history, food and water exposure, vaccination history, examination, and testing help a clinician decide what is more likely.

Arrange a clinical assessment if you have fever or digestive symptoms after travel or a possible food or water exposure. A clinician may request blood tests, including a Liver Function Test, and other tests based on your symptoms. Drink fluids if you can, rest, wash your hands carefully, and avoid preparing food for other people while unwell. Do not start leftover antibiotics or share medicines. Ask whether Hepatitis A Vaccination is suitable for you or household contacts; it does not prevent typhoid.

Seek urgent medical help for confusion, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, inability to keep fluids down, fainting, severe abdominal pain, breathing difficulty, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine. Prompt assessment is also sensible for a persistent fever after travel, new dark urine, or yellow skin or eyes. These warning signs do not identify one infection, but they can signal a need for examination and supportive care.

Ask which infection the pattern of symptoms and exposures suggests, which tests are needed, whether you should avoid work involving food, and how to protect people at home. Tell the clinician where you travelled, when symptoms began, what you ate or drank, and which vaccines or medicines you have received.