About Hepatitis A
What is Hepatitis A?
Causes and Risk Factors of Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. It spreads when someone swallows the virus, often through contaminated food or water, close personal contact, caring for someone who is infected, or certain types of sexual contact. A person can spread hepatitis A before they know they are sick, and some people—especially young children—may have no symptoms.
Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had hepatitis A before can get infected. Some people are more likely to be exposed to the virus or to become seriously ill if infected. Risk factors include:
- Travel: Traveling to areas where hepatitis A is more common or where access to safe water and sanitation may be limited can increase risk.
- Close contact: Living with, caring for, or having close personal contact with someone who has hepatitis A can increase risk.
- Certain life circumstances or behaviors: Risk is higher for people who use or inject drugs, men who have sex with men, people experiencing homelessness, people who work with HAV in a laboratory, and people who expect close contact with a child recently adopted from a country where hepatitis A is common.
Some people are more likely to develop severe illness from hepatitis A, including older adults and people with chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or cirrhosis, and people with HIV.
- Vaccination status: Not being vaccinated is a major preventable risk factor. Getting the hepatitis A vaccine helps protect against infection.
- Hand hygiene and sanitation: Washing hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food can help lower the risk of spread.
- Food and water safety: Avoiding unsafe food or water when traveling and following public health advice during outbreaks can help reduce risk.
Talk with a healthcare professional or local public health department if you think you were exposed to hepatitis A. The hepatitis A vaccine, immune globulin, or both may help prevent illness if given within 2 weeks after exposure.
Hepatitis A Symptoms
Symptoms of hepatitis A can appear anytime from about 2 to 7 weeks after exposure. Not everyone has symptoms, but adults are more likely than children to feel sick. Symptoms can include:
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Abdominal pain.
- Dark urine.
- Light-colored stools.
- Joint pain.
Signs that the liver may be affected can include:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
- Diarrhea.
- Dark urine.
- Pale or clay-colored stools.
Most people recover fully, but symptoms can sometimes come back or last for several months. Contact a healthcare professional right away if you think you were exposed to hepatitis A, if you have symptoms, or if you develop severe belly pain, repeated vomiting, confusion, unusual sleepiness, easy bruising or bleeding, or worsening yellowing of the skin or eyes.
How is Hepatitis A Diagnosed?
To diagnose hepatitis A, a healthcare professional may ask about symptoms, recent travel, food or water exposures, close contact with anyone who is sick, sexual exposure, drug use, and vaccination history. They may also do a physical exam and order blood tests.
- Medical history: Your healthcare provider will gather information about your symptoms, previous medical conditions, and potential risk factors. They may ask questions about recent travel and places you’ve eaten.
- Physical exam: Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination to look for signs of liver inflammation, such as tenderness or enlargement.
- Blood test: A blood sample will be taken and sent to a lab for testing. The blood tests may include:
- Hepatitis A IgM antibody testing, which can help confirm a recent or current hepatitis A infection.
- Liver function tests: These blood tests measure the levels of enzymes and proteins produced by the liver. Abnormal results can indicate liver damage.
Additional tests are not needed for everyone. They may be recommended if symptoms are severe, if liver blood tests are very abnormal, or if another liver problem is suspected.
- Ultrasound: An ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the liver. It can help assess the size and condition of the liver and detect any abnormalities.
Treatment Options for Hepatitis A
There is no specific medicine that cures hepatitis A. Treatment focuses on helping you feel better while your body clears the virus and your liver heals. Most people recover at home, but some people with severe illness may need hospital care.
- Post-exposure prevention: If you were recently exposed to hepatitis A and are not fully protected, a healthcare professional may recommend the hepatitis A vaccine, immune globulin, or both. These work best when given within 2 weeks after exposure.
- Rest and fluids: Rest when you need to and drink enough fluids, especially if you have vomiting or diarrhea.
- Food choices: Eat what you can tolerate. Smaller meals or snacks may be easier if you feel nauseated. A balanced diet can support recovery.
- Medication safety: Ask a healthcare professional before taking prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Some products, including certain pain relievers, can be harmful when the liver is inflamed.
- Avoid alcohol: Do not drink alcohol while you are sick and until a healthcare professional says your liver has recovered.
- Follow-up care: Keep follow-up appointments so your healthcare professional can monitor your recovery and tell you when it is safe to return to normal activities.
While you are contagious, you can help prevent spreading hepatitis A by washing your hands well with soap and water after using the bathroom and before preparing food, avoiding preparing food for others, and following your healthcare professional’s or public health department’s advice about work, school, childcare, and close contact.
Seek urgent medical care if symptoms are severe or worsening, especially confusion, unusual sleepiness, persistent vomiting, signs of dehydration, easy bruising or bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or worsening jaundice.