Hepatitis A
Topic Overview
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus. It goes away on its own in almost all cases. Hepatitis A does not lead to long-term liver problems.
Other forms of the virus (hepatitis B and hepatitis C) also cause hepatitis. Hepatitis A is the most common type.
How is hepatitis A spread?
The disease is caused by the hepatitis A virus. The virus is found in the stool of an infected person. It is spread when a person eats food or drinks water that has come in contact with infected stool.
Sometimes a group of people who eat at the same restaurant can get hepatitis A. This can happen when an employee with hepatitis A doesn't wash his or her hands well after using the bathroom and then prepares food.
The disease can also spread in day care centers. Workers can spread the virus if they don't wash their hands well after changing a diaper.
Some things can raise your risk of getting hepatitis A, such as eating raw oysters or undercooked clams. If you're traveling in a country where hepatitis A is common, you can lower your chances of getting the disease by avoiding uncooked foods and tap water.
What are the symptoms?
After you have been exposed to the virus, it can take from 2 to 7 weeks before you see any signs of it. Symptoms usually last for about 2 months.
Common symptoms are:
- Feeling very tired.
- Feeling sick to your stomach.
- Not feeling hungry.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Pain on the right side of the belly, under the rib cage (where your liver is).
- A fever.
- Sore muscles.
Older people with hepatitis A may get yellow skin (jaundice), along with dark urine and clay-colored stools.
All forms of hepatitis have similar symptoms. Only a blood test can tell if you have hepatitis A or another form of the disease.
Call your doctor right away if:
- You have any signs of hepatitis A.
- Someone you live with has hepatitis A.
- You have eaten in a restaurant that has had an outbreak of the virus.
- Your child goes to a day care center where hepatitis A has been reported.
How is hepatitis A diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and where you have eaten or traveled. You may have blood tests if your doctor thinks you have the virus. These tests can tell if your liver is inflamed and whether you have antibodies to the hepatitis A virus. These antibodies prove that you have been exposed to the virus.
Take steps to avoid passing hepatitis A on to others. Tell people you live with or have sex with that you have hepatitis A. Wash your hands with soap and hot water right after you use the bathroom or change a diaper and before you prepare food.
How is it treated?
Hepatitis A goes away on its own in most cases. You can help yourself get better faster by drinking lots of water and eating a healthy mix of foods.
Unlike other forms of hepatitis, the hepatitis A virus does not lead to long-term illness or serious liver damage. Most people get well within a few months.
While you have hepatitis A, cut back on daily activities until all of your energy returns. As you start to feel better, take your time in getting back to your regular activities. If you try to meet your regular pace too soon, you may get sick again.
You can only get the hepatitis A virus once. After that, your body builds up a defense against it.
Can hepatitis A be prevented?
You can protect yourself from hepatitis A by getting a vaccine (Havrix or Vaqta). You will get it in a series of two shots. It is usually 100% effective if you get both shots before you are exposed to the virus. A combination vaccine (Twinrix) that protects against hepatitis A and hepatitis B also is available.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that all children get the hepatitis A vaccine when they are at least 1 year old.
If you have been around someone who you know has hepatitis A, the hepatitis A vaccine or an injection of immune globulin (IG) may prevent you from getting the disease. It’s important for you to get the shot within 2 weeks of being exposed to the virus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning about hepatitis A:
Being diagnosed:
Getting treatment:
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| Author: | Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: November 16, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology | |
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