Hepatitis A

Signs and symptoms

Not everyone develops symptoms. Adults are more likely than children to develop symptoms.

Symptoms can appear two weeks to seven weeks after exposure. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can include sudden onset of:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Dark-colored urine
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or white of the eyes)

A person is contagious about two weeks before and one week after symptoms appear. 

How it spreads

Hepatitis A is usually spread from person to person. Fecal-oral transmission is most common. This happens if your mouth comes in contact with something contaminated with the stool (poop) of a person who has hepatitis A.

You can get hepatitis A from:

• Close contact with someone, often with a household member or sex partner, who has hepatitis A
• Eating or drinking after a person who has hepatitis A

You're unlikely to get hepatitis A from casual contact with others at work, school or community events.

Poor sanitary conditions or personal hygiene make it easier for the virus to spread.

People at higher risk

Some people are at higher risk for infection or more severe outcomes if they get hepatitis A. This includes:

• People who are sexually active
• Men who have sexual contact with other men
• People who use or inject drugs
• People experiencing unstable housing or homelessness
• People who live with someone who has hepatitis A
• Travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common
• International adoptees and their caregivers
• People living with chronic liver disease, such as fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
• People living with HIV
• People who provide services to adults who are at higher risk for hepatitis A
• People with occupational risk for exposure, including health care providers

How to Prevent Hepatitis A

Get Vaccinated

The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get the hepatitis A vaccine.

You should get the hepatitis A vaccine if:

• You have not already gotten the vaccine
• You're at high risk for infection or severe outcomes if you get hepatitis A
• You're pregnant and at high risk for infection or severe outcomes

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands can help prevent infection, especially:

• After using the bathroom or changing a diaper
• Before preparing and eating food

More ways to keep illness from spreading

Treatment and Recovery

• There’s no special medicine for hepatitis A.
• Someone who is sick with hepatitis A should rest, eat well and drink plenty of fluids.
• Most people get better within a few weeks.
• Once you’ve had hepatitis A, you’re immune for life and can’t get it again.