Hep A

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A (Hep A) is a contagious infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It can be a mild illness that lasts a few weeks or a serious illness that lasts several months.

Who Is at Risk

Anyone who has not been vaccinated against Hep A or who has not been infected with HAV can get Hep A. Certain life circumstances and behaviors can increase your risk of infection:

International travelers
Men who have sex with men
People who use drugs
People whose jobs increase the risk of exposure, such as those who work with HAV in a lab
People who anticipate close personal contact with an international adoptee
People experiencing homelessness

Certain health conditions, including chronic liver disease and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), also make it more likely that people will experience severe complications from Hep A.

If you are at risk for HAV infection, contact your healthcare professional about getting vaccinated or if you have symptoms of Hep A. Early diagnosis will help protect your liver and prevent spreading the disease.

Symptoms

The time from HAV exposure to the time a person may develop symptoms is 15-50 days. People who get sick with Hep A may experience different symptoms. Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children. Someone with Hep A can spread the virus for 2 weeks before symptoms appear and 1 week after symptoms start.

Symptoms of Hep A include:

Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Dark-colored urine
Clay-colored stool
Joint pain
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

How It Spreads

HAV is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. HAV spreads in several ways.

Person-to-person contact

You can get Hep A by using drugs with, caring for, or having certain types of sexual contact with someone infected with HAV.

Eating contaminated food or drink

You can get Hep A by ingesting contaminated food or drink. HAV can contaminate food during growing, harvesting, processing, handling, and even after cooking. It's also possible for Hep A to contaminate water.
Although uncommon, foodborne outbreaks can occur in the US from people eating contaminated fresh or frozen food products.

Prevention

If you are exposed to HAV, getting the Hep A vaccine is the best way to prevent getting sick. The vaccine is recommended for all children age 12-23 months and all children and adolescents who were not vaccinated at that age. Adults not previously vaccinated and those who have not had Hep A may get vaccinated.

Practice good personal hygiene and good hand hygiene.
Wash your hands after using the bathroom or changing the diaper of a young child or adult.
Wash your hands before preparing food.
Use a condom every time you have sex.
Don’t share substance use items such as needles, syringes, or other supplies like water, nasal tubes such as straws, cottons, or works. Get free sterile needles and other drug use supplies at a local harm reduction organization.
Vaccination with HAV may be recommended for those in close contact with someone with Hep A, such as household members and sexual partners, to prevent them from getting sick.

Testing & Diagnosis

Testing is only recommended for someone with Hep A symptoms. People exposed to Hep A should be vaccinated with HAV.

If you have symptoms of Hep A and think you have been exposed to the virus, contact your healthcare professional about being tested for the virus.

Treatment

There are no special treatments for Hep A. People with Hep A usually get better without treatment. When someone has Hep A, healthcare professionals usually recommend rest, healthy food, and plenty of fluids. People with Hep A should avoid alcoholic beverages.