Immunoglobulin (IG) for Hepatitis A
Why It Is Used
IG should be given to unvaccinated people at risk of infection with HAV, including:
- Household and sexual contacts of people diagnosed with Reference hepatitis A Opens New Window.
- Travelers visiting foreign countries
where hepatitis A is a known problem or where sanitary conditions are
questionable. More doses of IG are needed every 3 to 5 months. If you frequently travel to or plan to stay for longer than 3 months in a country
where hepatitis A is a problem, it is recommended that you receive the
hepatitis A vaccine
(What is a Reference PDF Opens New Window document?). - All staff and residents of child care centers, hospitals, residences for the developmentally disabled, prisons, or food service settings where an outbreak of hepatitis A occurs.
- People who need protection against HAV infection but are allergic to the vaccine.
- Children younger than age 1 who need to be protected against HAV infection.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: August 30, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology |
|
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