Hepatitis A

Overview

Hepatitis means a swollen liver. Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus. It spreads when someone eats or drinks something with tiny amounts of stool from an infected person.

Children often have no symptoms. Adults are more likely to feel sick and turn yellow. Rarely, it causes sudden liver failure, mostly in older adults or people with other liver disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually start 2 to 7 weeks after exposure.

• Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Tiredness
• Nausea, vomiting, or poor appetite
• Fever

Less common

• Belly pain under the right ribs
• Dark urine
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Joint pain
• Itching

When to get medical care

Causes

The hepatitis A virus spreads through the fecal-oral route: food, water, or objects contaminated with stool, or close contact like caring for a sick person or sex.

Does it spread or run in families?

• Yes, it can spread from person to person.
• How it spreads: germs from poop getting into the mouth.
• Washing hands often and staying home when sick help protect others.

Who is more likely to get it

• Travel to places where it's common
• Living with or caring for someone with hepatitis A
• Homelessness or drug use
• Men who have sex with men
• Not being vaccinated

Possible complications

• Acute liver failure: Rare

Diagnosis

A blood test confirms it.

Questions you may be asked

• Travel, food you ate, and contact with someone who was sick
• Vaccines you've had

The exam

They'll check for yellow skin and eyes and a tender liver.

Tests

Tests:

• Hepatitis A antibody test (IgM): Shows a recent infection.
• Liver tests: Show how swollen the liver is.

Treatment

There's no specific medicine. The body clears the virus on its own.

Self-care

• Rest
• Drink fluids and eat small meals
• Avoid alcohol until your liver heals
• Ask before taking acetaminophen or other medicines
• Wash hands well, especially after the bathroom and before handling food

Medicines

There's no antiviral treatment. The vaccine prevents it.

OwieClear doesn't give doses: follow the label or your healthcare professional. Medicine names here are examples, not a full list.

If you were exposed in the last 2 weeks and aren't vaccinated, a vaccine shot (or antibodies) can prevent illness.

Prevention

To prevent hepatitis A:

• Get vaccinated (routine for children; recommended for many adults)
• Wash hands with soap and water
• When traveling, drink safe water and eat cooked food

Which doctor treats this

• Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
• They may send you to a gastroenterologist or hepatologist (liver doctor).

Living with it

Support groups and helplines

• American Liver Foundation: Helpline and support groups for liver disease.

Back to school, work, or sports

• Stay home until 2 days after vomiting and diarrhea stop, especially if you work with food, children, or patients.
• Wash hands well after using the toilet.

Children, pregnancy, and older adults

• Children: Often have no symptoms but can still spread it.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
• Some infections can pass to the baby during pregnancy or birth. Tell your provider if you've been exposed.
• Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
• Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
• Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.

Outlook

Almost everyone recovers fully and is then protected for life. It doesn't become a long-term infection.

Getting ready for your visit

Tell your care team about recent food, travel, and contacts.

What to bring

• Travel dates and places
• Your medicine list

Questions to ask

• When can I go back to work or school?
• Do my household contacts need a vaccine?

Research studies

Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.

Search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies on Hepatitis A