Your liver converts dietary nutrients into useful substances and breaks down toxins and chemicals. Hepatitis A is a type of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It’s generally acquired through consuming contaminated food or water but can also be spread from person to person and is highly contagious. (1) Numerous other types of viral and nonviral hepatitis also exist, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcohol-related hepatitis, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which is caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. Often, children who are infected do not develop noticeable symptoms. (3) For those who do develop symptoms, they can include the following: (2)
FatigueSudden nausea and vomitingPain in the abdomen, especially on the upper-right side beneath the lower ribs (by the liver)Clay-colored bowel movementsLoss of appetiteLow-grade feverJoint painDark-colored urineYellowish tint to the skin and whites of the eyes, indicating jaundiceIntense itching
Learn More About Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis A
When an infected person touches objects or food after going to the bathroom and failing to wash his hands properlyWhen someone doesn’t wash properly after handling diapers or cleaning up the stool of an infected personDuring sex with an infected person, particularly if it involves direct or indirect anal-oral contact, or anal sex in which sanitary measures aren’t taken afterward
An infected person does not have to have symptoms to spread the virus. (1) Many U.S. states have reported hepatitis A outbreaks in recent years among people who use illegal drugs and people who are homeless or have unstable housing. In these outbreaks, the virus is spread primarily person-to-person. You can also get hepatitis A by ingesting food or water contaminated with feces containing HAV. (1) Common sources of HAV transmission include fruits, vegetables, shellfish, ice, and water. (1) This mode of transmission is far less common in the United States and other developed countries, which have better sanitation measures in place, such as treating the water supply with chlorine or chloramine. (3) You cannot get HAV through casual contact with an infected person, such as through hugging or even being coughed or sneezed on. (3) Babies are not believed to get HAV from breast milk. (4) You are at an increased risk for hepatitis A if you: (1)
Live in or travel to a developing country where hepatitis A is commonLive with someone who has hepatitis AHave oral-anal sexual contact with someone who is infectedAre a man who has sex with menUse illegal drugs, including those that aren’t injectedHave hemophilia or other disorders that affect blood clottingWork in the healthcare, food, or sewage industries
Prognosis of Hepatitis A
The outlook for someone with HAV is excellent. Close to 85 percent of people with hepatitis A recover within three months, and nearly everyone recovers within six months. HAV isn’t a chronic disease and there are no long-term health consequences. (6) People are most contagious soon after they get the infection, one to two weeks before symptoms appear. Healthy adults are no longer contagious two weeks after the illness begins, while children and people who have weak immune systems can remain contagious for up to six months, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. (7) After a person has HAV and recovers, they can never get the infection again; they are immune for life. (8) When you’re sick with the infection, rest is important. Nausea can make eating difficult; small snacks and plenty of fluids are recommended. (9)
Medication Options
There are no medications that are needed or recommended to cure hepatitis A. (9) If a person has been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, a single shot of the hepatitis A vaccine can help prevent infection. (1) In some cases, an exposed person might also be given immune globulin, which is a substance that contains antibodies and comes from human blood plasma. (1)
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Because hepatitis A resolves on its own, there haven’t been many studies on alternative or complementary therapies to treat it. A case report published in Integrative Medicine Research in December 2019 treated a patient with HAV with herbal medicines, twice daily acupuncture, and moxibustion. (10) Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese healing technique in which mugwort (a spongy herb) is burned on top of an acupuncture point. (11) The authors concluded that this Korean-based medicine treatment may be effective in shortening how long a person took to recover from hepatitis A, compared with no treatment at all. (10) Learn More About Treatment for Hepatitis A: Medication, Vaccination, and Home Remedies
Prevention of Hepatitis A
Although the infection rate of hepatitis A is lower in the United States than in many low- and middle-income countries, it is still present. (3) But there are ways to reduce the risk of catching the infection. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get a hepatitis A vaccine. If a person gets the entire series (two or three doses are required), it can provide long-term protection against the infection. (1) Tips on reducing the risk of spreading or catching HAV include the following: (12)
Wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom or whenever coming into contact with another person’s blood, stools, or other bodily fluids.If you work at a place where people routinely come into close contact, such as a day care center or long-term care facility, wash your hands often, especially before handling or serving food.
People who are traveling to an area where the water may be unsafe need to use extra precautions:
Avoid raw shellfish.Be cautious about eating raw salads or raw fruit or vegetables that have been sliced or cut. They may have been washed in contaminated water. It is safer to peel all fruits and vegetables yourself if you wish to eat them raw.Use only bottled water that is sealed for drinking or brushing teeth, or use water that has been boiled for at least a full minute or has been chemically treated. (13)If food is heated, it should be hot to the touch and consumed right away.
Hepatitis A can be transmitted through any sexual activity with an infected person and is not limited to fecal-oral contact. Getting the HAV vaccine is the best way to avoid catching or spreading the infection. (1)
Liver Failure
Hepatitis A infection can lead to acute liver failure, especially in older people and people who have other liver diseases or risk factors for liver disease. (8) In liver failure, the liver is losing or has lost the ability to perform its usual functions, which include helping to fight infection, cleaning the blood, aiding in food digestion, and storing energy. Liver failure is life-threatening and requires urgent medical care. (14)
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare but life-threatening disease where the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. In very rare cases, hepatitis A can cause GBS. (15)
Pancreatitis
Researchers have noted an association between hepatitis A infection and acute pancreatitis, although it is rare. (16) In acute pancreatitis, the pancreas becomes inflamed, causing such symptoms as sharp pain in the abdomen, fever, vomiting, elevated heart rate, and a swollen abdomen. Acute pancreatitis is a medical emergency, and anyone with symptoms should seek help immediately. There were 12,474 hepatitis A cases reported in the United States in 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, experts believe there are many instances where people don’t get diagnosed or tested for the infection, and so the actual number of Americans with HAV is thought to be closer to 24,900. (1) The number of hepatitis A cases has gone up in the past few years. More person-to-person outbreaks have been reported in groups of people who are unhoused or using IV drugs and among men who have sex with men. (1) A hepatitis E diagnosis is made by testing the blood or a stool sample. Most people who get it make a complete recovery. (6) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The government agency provides information for both healthcare providers and the public, including a list of questions and answers about hepatitis A. World Health Organization (WHO) This organization focuses on improving health around the world. It provides guidance, resources, and recommendations about diseases, including hepatitis A. Additional reporting by Becky Upham.
