Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that is a result of infection with the hepatitis A virus. The disease can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness causing liver failure. Most people infected with the virus develop symptoms within 2-6 weeks of exposure. Symptoms usually last less than 2 months but can last up to 6 months. Hepatitis A can be more serious and potentially life threatening for older people and people who already have liver disease such as chronic hepatitis B or C. Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not turn into a chronic infection. A vaccine is available for those who have been exposed to Hepatitis A virus or are prone to complications due to hepatitis A.
Signs and symptoms:
The illness varies depending on the type of hepatitis, and may be mild or very severe. Symptoms will also depend on whether the illness is acute or chronic. Common symptoms include:
- A high temperature (fever).
- A yellow tinge to the skin or eyes (jaundice).
- Feeling tired.
- Muscle or joint aches and pains.
- Tummy (abdominal pain).
- A poor appetite.
- Feeling sick (nausea).
- Darker-coloured urine and pale-coloured stools.
- Headache.
When to see a doctor?
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of hepatitis A.
Getting a hepatitis A vaccine or an injection of immunoglobulin (an antibody) within two weeks of exposure to hepatitis A may protect you from infection. Ask your doctor or your local health department about receiving the hepatitis A vaccine if:
- Someone close to you, such as a roommate or caregiver, is diagnosed with hepatitis A
- You have traveled out of the country recently or to areas with poor sanitation
- A restaurant where you recently ate reports a hepatitis A outbreak
https://patient.info/digestive-health/hepatitis/hepatitis-a
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-a/symptoms-causes/syc-20367007