Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis A
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Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that can infect your liver and cause a variety of symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, fever, and jaundice (or, the yellowing of your eyes). Most people who contract hepatitis A usually experience symptoms suddenly. You may notice symptoms within two to four weeks after being exposed to the hepatitis A virus. However, some people, especially young children, might not notice any symptoms at all.
Symptoms of hepatitis A tend to go away within two to seven weeks, even without treatment. However, in about 10-15% of people, milder symptoms may come and go for up to six months. Fortunately, unlike other types of hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A does not lead to permanent, chronic liver infection or disease.
Common Symptoms
Hepatitis A can cause symptoms of general illness. These include:
Stomach pain: Often occurs on the right side of your abdomen, underneath your ribs. This is where the liver is located. Sometimes, the pain can also spread out to your abdomen and back.
Nausea and vomiting: This may feel like an uneasiness in your stomach and the need to throw up. You might also have trouble keeping food and fluids down.
Fever: You might develop a high temperature when you first start having symptoms, which can eventually subside after a few days.
Fatigue: It's common to feel exhausted when you contract the virus. You may notice yourself sleeping more than usual or feel tired even after getting enough rest.
Malaise: A general feeling of being unwell or lethargic.
Body aches: Some people experience pain in their muscles and joints—similar to body aches you might feel when you have the flu or common cold.
Jaundice: This can cause your skin and the whites of your eyes to yellow. People with fair skin may notice yellowing on their skin, while people with darker skin often notice yellowing in their eyes. The yellow color can occur because of high levels of bilirubin (a substance your liver makes) in your body, which can increase when you have a liver infection.
Changes in urine color: High bilirubin levels can also cause your pee to become darker. This happens because bilirubin isn't leaving your system as it should, causing an excess amount of the substance in your liver and intestines.
Rare Symptoms
In some cases, hepatitis A can cause uncommon symptoms that affect other systems of your body. These symptoms can sometimes be serious. It's important to watch for the following symptoms if you have hepatitis A or are experiencing common symptoms of the infection:
Skin rash or itchiness
Chest pain due to inflammation of the sac around the heart (known as pericarditis)
Difficulty breathing because of inflammation in your lungs (known as pneumonitis)
Swelling in your legs caused by kidney inflammation (known as nephritis)
Fatty stools due to inflammation of your pancreas (known as pancreatitis)
Weakness or paralysis in parts of your body, which occurs due to nervous system inflammation
In less than 0.5% of people, hepatitis A infection prevents the liver from performing its normal functions. This is a serious complication that can cause liver failure. Liver failure from hepatitis A most often occurs in older adults who already have an underlying living condition. If the condition is left untreated, they may need a liver transplant to restore the liver's function.
Symptoms in Children
Generally, Hepatitis A can cause symptoms in older children and adults. Young children may not even know they have the infection. In fact, only 30% of children ages five or younger display symptoms of hepatitis A.
If young children do get symptoms, they look similar to the symptoms that adults experience—such as fever and stomach pain. But, it's important to note that young children usually don't experience jaundice. In contrast, more than 70% of older children and adults have jaundice during the infection.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you were exposed to hepatitis A or are experiencing symptoms of the infection, it's vital to seek care from a healthcare provider to help manage your condition and treat symptoms. This might happen if you know you ate contaminated food or if you had sexual or close contact with someone who has hepatitis A.
Sometimes, you may not know if you've been exposed to the infection. That said, it's still important if you notice common symptoms of hepatitis A, such as fever or jaundice. General symptoms of hepatitis can often look like other illnesses. It's still important to see your provider even if your symptoms seem mild.
A Quick Review
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects your liver. If you contract the infection, it's common to experience symptoms such as jaundice, nausea, stomach pain, fatigue, and fever. It's worth noting that young children with the infection might not experience symptoms at all.
Symptoms of the infection often arise suddenly—generally, two to four weeks after exposure to the virus. In most people, symptoms go away within several weeks. But, some people may notice that mild symptoms come and go over a period of several months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is hepatitis A contagious?
People tend to be most contagious in the two weeks before they start having symptoms. You may continue to be contagious for three weeks or so after your symptoms begin.
Can I have hepatitis A and not know it?
Some people do get hepatitis A without having any symptoms, especially children. In some cases, you might not even know you were exposed. You might also have vague complaints (a fever or stomach pain) that go away within a few weeks, without ever receiving a diagnosis.
Is hepatitis A a sexually transmitted infection?
Sexual contact is one way hepatitis A can spread. You can also get it through close extended contact with someone who has hepatitis A, even if it's not sexual. In some cases, you can also contract hepatitis through contaminated food and water.
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