Symptoms of hepatitis A infection

Symptoms often appear about 2 to 6 weeks after exposure to the virus. Possible symptoms include:

• Fever

• Tiredness and weakness

• Pain in the stomach area or over the liver

• Loss of appetite

• Upset stomach (nausea), vomiting, or diarrhea

• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

• Itchy skin

• Dark urine and light-colored stools

Diagnosing hepatitis A

A sample of blood is taken to test for HAV. Other tests may be done to check the health of your liver.

Treating hepatitis A

• There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. The virus will run its course.

• Treat symptoms as you would flu symptoms. Drink fluids and get plenty of rest.

• During recovery, avoid fatty foods.

• Don't drink alcohol, which can damage the liver.

• Don't take any over-the-counter medicines without checking with your healthcare provider. The liver processes many medicines, and certain medicines can be harmful to the infected liver. Limit the amount of acetaminophen you take to no more than 2 grams per day. 

• If you know you've been exposed to hepatitis A in the past 2 weeks, tell your provider. To reduce your risk of HAV after exposure, it's advised that you have a dose of the vaccine. A shot of immune globulin (IG) can also offer short-term protection. IG has antibodies from the body’s immune system that destroy HAV.

Preventing hepatitis A from spreading

Washing hands thoroughly and often is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of HAV.

A person with hepatitis A can spread the virus to others, even before symptoms appear. They can keep spreading the virus for a few days after symptoms start. Take these steps to prevent HAV from spreading:

• Wash your hands often. Always wash hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers, and before making food or eating. Work up a good lather with soap and clean, running water. Scrub for at least 10 to 15 seconds, then rinse.

• Don't go to work or to public places until symptoms are gone.

• Think about being vaccinated against hepatitis B. This is a more serious form of hepatitis. (Once you’ve had hepatitis A, you can’t get it again. So you don’t need the hepatitis A vaccine.)

• The hepatitis A vaccine is advised for all children age 1 year old born in the U.S. It's an inactive form of the virus. This means you can't get hepatitis A from the vaccine. The vaccine is advised for all children starting at age 12 months. The vaccine is given in 2 shots that are 6 months apart. For adults, it's given in 2- or 3-dose shots, depending on the type of vaccine.

• People living with you should be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B if they haven’t been already.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following:

• Symptoms get worse instead of better

• Signs of fluid loss (dehydration). These include not peeing as often, very dark urine, dry or sticky mouth, and confusion.

• Swelling in your hands, arms, feet, ankles, belly, or face

• Bleeding from your nose, mouth, or rectum

• Bloody stools

• A yellowish color to the eyes or skin (jaundice)