Hepatitis A (patient information)
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What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital part of the body. If it does not work properly, it can cause serious illness. Viral hepatitis is the term used when the hepatitis is caused by a virus. There are several types of viral hepatitis including A, B, C, D and E; the most common types in the United States are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. All these viruses affect the liver but are spread in different ways. So the ways to prevent people from getting the virus are different too. Drinking alcohol or taking drugs (whether legal, illegal or prescription) can also cause a type of hepatitis.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis A virus (also known as HAV). One can acquire HAV by ingesting food contaminated with the virus. Typically, HAV can cause the liver to swell, but does not cause any permanent damage. Patients may fee flu-like symptoms or have no symptoms at all. For most patients, HAV will go away on its after several weeks.
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis A?
HAV has incubation period of about 28 days (anywhere from 15 to 50 is usual).
Some patients, often young children, have no symptoms. 70% of children younger than 6 who have HAV have no symptoms. Old patients are usually symptomatic. The symptoms of HAV are:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored bowel movements
- Joint pain
- Jaundice. Younger children (<6yrs) typically do not get Jaundiced, while older patients often (>70%) do.
Symptoms typically last less than 2 months, but 10%-15% of patients still have symptoms or have relapses up to 6 months.
Who is at risk for Hepatitis A?
How to know you have Hepatitis A (Diagnosis)?
When to seek urgent medical care
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for Hepatitis A
Directions to Hospitals Treating Hepatitis A