Hepatitis A

What is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects your liver. It’s caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus causes liver inflammation (hepatitis) with mild symptoms that last for up to two months. It usually goes away without treatment. But it’s very contagious and easy to spread to others when you’re infected.

Symptoms of hepatitis A

Hepatitis A symptoms can include:

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Itchy skin
• Joint pain
• Light-colored poop and dark-colored pee
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right (where your liver is)
• Yellow-colored skin or eyes (jaundice)

Not everyone has symptoms. Children under 6 may not show any signs of infection.

Hepatitis A symptoms appear between two to six weeks after infection. This is the incubation period, when the virus is replicating itself in your body. When the virus has replicated itself enough to register as a threat, your immune system launches an attack against it. This is what causes symptoms.

Hepatitis A transmission

If the HVA virus is what causes hepatitis A, “transmission” is how you get it. You can get hepatitis A from food poisoning or close personal contact with someone who has the virus. The virus lives in the blood and poop of people who have it. Transmission occurs when it passes from their body to yours.

This can happen if:

• Somebody infected with the virus doesn’t wash their hands after using the bathroom. They might then prepare food that you eat, touch surfaces that you touch or touch you.
• You have close contact with somebody who has the virus. It can be transmitted through sex or kissing if there’s anal contact or they have bleeding in their mouth (like bleeding gums).
• You live or work in a place with poor sewage disposal. If there are traces of poop in the local soil or water, the infection could contaminate raw produce, shellfish or tap water.
• You share needles with someone who has the virus. Sharing needles with someone exposes your blood to their blood and anything in it. Accidentally touching someone’s needle can, too.

Risk factors

You may be more likely to contract hepatitis A if you:

• Are experiencing homelessness or living in a crowded place
• Work in childcare, a hospital or a nursing home
• Use intravenous drugs
• Have HIV or another immune disease

How long are you contagious?

You’re contagious for two weeks before symptoms start, and up to three weeks after they go away. But if you never have symptoms, you might never know that you’re infected or contagious. After the virus leaves your body, it can still live on surfaces and in your environment for several months.

Complications

Hepatitis A doesn’t cause chronic liver disease or lasting liver damage, like other hepatitis viruses can. That’s because most people get better before the virus can damage their livers. But during infection, hepatitis A can rarely cause acute liver failure. This is more likely if you have a weaker immune system.

How doctors diagnose hepatitis A

To diagnose hepatitis A, a healthcare provider will start by asking about your symptoms and physically examining you. They’ll look for physical signs of liver disease, like:

• Jaundice
• Enlarged liver
• Enlarged spleen

To test for liver disease, they’ll take a blood panel to check how your liver is functioning. They can also test your blood for antibodies to different viruses. This will tell them which virus you have.

How is hepatitis A treated?

There’s no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you:

• Stay home. You should stay home from school or work for at least a week after symptoms begin. After that, you can return if you feel better and your fever and jaundice have gone away.
• Stay hydrated. Sip liquids throughout the day. If you’re nauseous, try broths or clear soups. You can also try foods that are mostly liquid, like popsicles, flavored gelatin or ice cream.
• Avoid substances that stress your liver. Take a break from alcohol, smoking and recreational drugs. Check with your healthcare provider about supplements and medications.
• Keep in touch with your provider. They’ll want to check on you at times to make sure your condition is improving. If your symptoms are bad, they might want to check you more often.

What’s the recovery time from hepatitis A?

Symptoms of hepatitis A last for as long as it takes for your immune system to defeat the virus. Most people recover within two months. If you have a weakened immune system, the infection might last longer — up to six months. Sometimes, symptoms appear to be gone but then come back (relapse).

Is there a prophylactic treatment for hepatitis A?

Yes. If you’ve been exposed to the virus, you may be able to prevent infection by getting one of two treatments within two weeks of exposure. These include:

• Getting the hepatitis A vaccine. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, getting vaccinated within two weeks of exposure may protect you from getting the infection.
• Getting an immune globulin injection. Immune globulin is a medication that contains antibodies to the virus. Your provider may recommend this if you can’t have the vaccine.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

If you think you may have been infected, contact your provider as soon as possible for testing. You may be able to treat it proactively. If you can’t, it’s important to know that you’re contagious. If you’re recovering from hepatitis A infection, contact your provider if you feel like your symptoms aren’t improving.

Can hepatitis A be prevented?

Yes, it can. Getting vaccinated against hepatitis A is the easiest way to prevent it. Healthcare providers recommend hepatitis A vaccinations for people over 12 months of age who:

• May be exposed to the virus at home or work
• Plan on traveling to a country that may have higher exposure
• Have chronic liver disease

Good hygiene helps prevent many diseases at home or abroad. You can help protect yourself and others by washing your hands often and practicing safe food prep.

How do I avoid infecting other people?

If you have hepatitis A, you can help prevent its spread by:

• Letting close contacts know you’re contagious.
• Disinfecting your home with bleach-based cleaning products.
• Not preparing and serving food to others.
• Avoiding sex while you’re infected.

What can I expect if I have hepatitis A?

If you have hepatitis A, you may feel unwell for several weeks to months. Or you may never have symptoms. Your body will eventually clear the virus without treatment. Unlike other hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A doesn’t stay forever and doesn’t need a cure. But it’s very contagious while you have it.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

If you know you have hepatitis A, contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms get worse or you feel as if your symptoms aren’t going away as quickly as you expected.