I think I had Hep A 56 years ago

[Marti1210]

My sisters and I had yellow jaundice at age 8, about 1950. That's the only name we ever knew it by, but I think it must have been Hep. A.  I was given penicillin and another pill I can't remember, and was very sick for a few weeks.  We supposedly contracted this from our father who came home from foreign countries after WWII was over.  I have never had yellow jaundice since, but have still been prevented from giving blood.  Can my blood still infect someone?  If I should be a match for my daughter with Hep C, who may someday need a liver transplant, would I be eligible?

[Marti1210]

Thanks to everyone for your replies.  I feel pretty reassured now (assuming I'm a match).  I haven't tried to give blood for many years because they always turn me down when I tell them I had yellow jaundice at age 8.  No testing was involved.  I don't know much about the subject, but I'm assuming if it had been B or C, it would have stongly affected my health over the years.  Thanks again.

[l-horn]

It is my understanding, which is limited, that not everyone who has had hep A has the anti-bodies.

Of course, what I know about virology could be written on a pin head so take that with a grain of salt.

[zazza]

A quick check on Internet says that one-third of the Americans have evidence of past hepatitis A infection, and thus are immune to hepatitis A.

[desrt]

Intersesting question. Most people who have had hep A resolve the disease fully and are not at risk for transmitting it. Since they are using HCV+ livers for transplants nowadays (into other HCV patients) I don't see where using a liver with hep A antibodies would be a problem, unless it had an effect on the living donor procedure.

[l-horn]

I can't answer your question specifically but my doctor told me that 90% of the adult population has had Hep A and most never knew they had it.