Hepatitis A Health Article

Definition

Hepatitis A is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus.

See also:

• Hepatitis
• Hepatitis A vaccine
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C

Alternative Names

Viral hepatitis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The hepatitis A virus is found in the stools, blood, and semen of an infected person about 15 to 45 days before symptoms occur and during the first week of illness.

You can catch hepatitis A if:

• You come in contact with food or water contaminated by the virus
• You come in contact with a person who currently has the disease

There are approximately 100,000 hepatitis A infections in the United States every year.

Risk factors include:

• International travel, especially to Asia or South or Central America
• IV drug use
• Living in a nursing home or rehabilitation center
• Working in a health care, food, or sewage industry

Other common hepatitis virus infections include hepatitis B and hepatitis C, but hepatitis A is the least serious and most mild of these diseases. Both of the others may become chronic illnesses, but hepatitis A does not.

Symptoms

• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Itching
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Yellow skin (jaundice)

Signs and tests

The doctor will perform a physical examination and may discover that you have an enlarged and tender liver.

Hepatitis serology tests may show:

• IgM and IgG antibodies to hepatitis A (IgM is usually positive before IgG)
• Elevated liver enzymes (liver function tests)

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Rest is recommended during the acute phase of the disease when the symptoms are most severe. People with acute hepatitis should avoid alcohol and any substances that are toxic to the liver, including acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Fatty foods may cause vomiting, because secretions from the liver are needed to digest fats. Fatty foods are best avoided during the acute phase.