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Home > Educational Resources > Liver Disease Info > Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A

Explore this section to learn more about hepatitis A, including a description of the disease and how it's diagnosed.

What is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus, or HAV. It is not a long-lasting or chronic infection, and nearly all people recover from hepatitis A within six months without any lasting health problems. However, the symptoms of hepatitis A may be uncomfortable and may disrupt daily activities. The average adult patient can miss up to five weeks of work because of the illness.

Hepatitis A poses a greater threat to certain people, including those with other liver diseases and people over 60. These patients have a higher chance of liver failure after becoming infected with hepatitis A. There are about 100 deaths a year due to hepatitis A.

If you get hepatitis A and recover, you will never get it again and you cannot transmit the virus to others. One-third of Americans have hepatitis A immunity from a past infection.

Rates of hepatitis A infection in the United States are currently low, compared to the average 26,000 cases reported annually during the 1980s and 1990s. This drop may be attributed in part to the implementation of routine hepatitis A vaccinations for children in 11 states in 1999.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

Symptoms of hepatitis A can occur two to seven weeks after infection with the virus. The symptoms are usually mild. Low energy is the most common symptom. Others may include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, headache, muscle soreness, pain near the liver and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes). The symptoms almost always go away within two months. Children may not have any symptoms, even though they can spread the infection to others.

What causes hepatitis A?

Most cases of hepatitis A are caused by consuming food or water contaminated with fecal matter that contains the virus. Common causes of transmission include:

  • Poor personal hygiene among people involved in food or meal preparation
  • Eating raw or undercooked shellfish that came from waters polluted by sewage
  • Failure to wash hands after changing a diaper or after using the bathroom

Hepatitis A infection is likely to occur wherever hygiene may be a problem. Workers and children at daycare centers may contract and/or spread the virus through fecal-oral contamination due to diaper changing. Outbreaks have also occurred at military installations, institutions for the disabled and prisons. Occasionally, hepatitis A spreads within households or at restaurants.

How is hepatitis A diagnosed?

Hepatitis A is diagnosed with a blood test. If you think you have hepatitis A, it is important to see a doctor right away to get a diagnosis. Symptoms of hepatitis A are similar to those of other liver diseases that can be potentially more serious.

How is hepatitis A treated?

If you are not vaccinated and may have been recently exposed to the hepatitis A virus, tell your doctor immediately. He or she should give you a single dose of hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin as soon as possible. This treatment is intended to help boost your immunity and reduce your risk of developing a full-blown infection.

  • For healthy persons ages 1 to 40, a single dose of hepatitis A vaccine is recommended.
  • For persons over 40 years of age, immune globulin is recommended.
  • For children under 1 year of age, immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic liver disease, immune globulin is recommended.

If you do develop a hepatitis A infection, you should not require additional medical treatment. The symptoms are usually mild and the disease goes away on its own in almost all cases. People with hepatitis A should reduce the pace of their daily activities to match their loss of energy. A balanced diet with plenty of fluids is also helpful.

Your liver’s ability to break down drugs is weakened while you have hepatitis A, and alcohol may cause further damage to your liver. Therefore, if you have hepatitis A, you should not take any drug or herbal supplement unless approved by your doctor, and avoid alcohol.

People with hepatitis A may experience itchy skin; this can be controlled with non-prescription anti-itch medicine.

If I’ve been diagnosed with hepatitis A, what should I ask my doctor?

Talk to you doctor about how to avoid spreading the disease to others, including those living in your household. Also, ask your doctor if your household members and people with whom you have recently been in close contact should receive hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin.

If you already have another liver disease, make sure your doctor knows. Having hepatitis A and another liver disease at the same time can increase your risk of liver failure.

Who is at risk for hepatitis A?

Anyone can get hepatitis A; as many as one out of three Americans will get hepatitis A during their lifetime.

However, you may be at higher risk for infection if you:

  • Live in the same household as an infected person
  • Have sexual contact with an infected person
  • Travel in regions where hepatitis A is common, including the Middle East, South America, Eastern Europe, Central America (including Mexico), Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
  • Are a man who has sex with men
  • Use illegal drugs (injection or non-injection)

What is the best way to prevent hepatitis A?

Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A. Hepatitis A vaccine is given in 2 doses, separated by 6-12 months. Vaccination is recommended for:

  • All children age one and older
  • People traveling in regions where hepatitis A is common including the Middle East, South America, Eastern Europe, Central America (including Mexico), Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
    • For most otherwise healthy adults, a single dose of hepatitis A vaccine prior to departure is sufficient.
    • Older adults, immunocompromised persons and those with chronic medical problems planning to depart within two weeks should receive both the vaccine and immune globulin.
    • Travelers who elect not to receive vaccine or are less than one year of age should receive a single dose of immune globulin.
  • Patients with long-term liver disease or blood-clotting disorders such as hemophilia
  • People who have had, or are waiting for, a liver transplant
  • People who use illegal drugs
  • Men who have sex with men
  • Persons recently exposed to hepatitis A (see How is hepatitis A treated?)

Another important way to avoid getting or spreading hepatitis A is to practice good personal hygiene. Always clean your hands with soap and warm water immediately after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food.

Page updated: November 27th, 2007