It’s passed on through tiny particles of infected faeces entering the mouth. Faeces can get into the mouth when rimming, or onto your hands during various sex acts including scat, fingering, fisting, engaging in anal play or by handling contaminated objects such as dildos or used condoms.

From your hands it’s really easy to transfer the infection to your mouth through eating food, having a cigarette, touching your mouth or any number of other ways. It can also be passed on by using eating/drinking utensils or drug smoking equipment previously used by someone with Hep A. People are contagious for around three weeks, starting two weeks before they develop symptoms to about a week afterwards.

Flu like symptoms are common, alongside; nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, muscle and joint pain and jaundice. As with most STIs some people will only get some symptoms and they can range in severity depending on the individual. Symptoms will normally appear within 2-7 weeks of infection.  People with Hepatitis A should avoid drugs, alcohol, excessively fatty diets, or anything that may affect the liver.

Like the flu – there is no specific treatment just plenty of fluids and bed rest.  Symptoms can last for up to a month and most people will be able to clear Hep A by themselves.  In most cases people will develop antibodies against HEP A after having it, meaning that they will be immune to any further attacks.

Wash your hands after using the toilet, before and after sex (especially any anal play), and use dams for rimming. If you think you are at high risk, you can get yourself vaccinated against Hep A: it is normally 2 separate injections. 

If you are living with HIV, getting immunised for Hep A is a good idea.  Many of the drugs used to treat HIV will need to pass through your liver and can not be tolerated during acute hepatitis infection.