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What I need to know about Hepatitis A

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What is hepatitis A?

Image of the loacation of the liver in the human body.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease.

Hepatitis (HEP-ah-TY-tis) makes your liver swell and stops it from working right.

You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and stops bleeding. It removes drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy for when you need it.


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What causes hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus.

A virus is a germ that causes sickness. (For example, the flu is caused by a virus.) People can pass viruses to each other. The virus that causes hepatitis A is called the hepatitis A virus.

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How could I get hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is spread by close personal contact with someone else who has the infection.

Woman eating.
Wash your hands before fixing
or eating food.

You could also get hepatitis A by

  • eating food that has been prepared by someone with hepatitis A

  • drinking water that has been contaminated by hepatitis A (in parts of the world with poor hygiene and sanitary conditions)

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Who can get hepatitis A?

Anyone can get hepatitis A.

But some people are more likely to than others:

An illustration of two children playing.
Children in day care could get hepatitis A.
  • people who live with someone who has hepatitis A

  • children who go to day care

  • people who work in a day care center

  • men who have sex with men

  • people who travel to other countries where hepatitis A is common


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What are the symptoms?

Hepatitis A can make you feel like you have the flu.

You might

Illustration of a man in bed.
Bed rest and medicine will help you get better.
  • feel tired

  • feel sick to your stomach

  • have a fever

  • not want to eat

  • have stomach pain

  • have diarrhea

Some people have

  • dark yellow urine

  • light-colored stools

  • yellowish eyes and skin

Some people don't have any symptoms.

If you have symptoms, or think you might have hepatitis A, go to a doctor. The doctor will test your blood.

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How is hepatitis A treated?

Most people who have hepatitis A get well on their own after a few weeks.

You may need to rest in bed for several days or weeks, and you won't be able to drink alcohol until you are well. The doctor may give you medicine for your symptoms.

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How can I protect myself?

You can get the hepatitis A vaccine.

Illustration of a Doctor giving a woman a shot.
Vaccines protect you from getting hepatitis A.

A vaccine is a drug that you take when you are healthy that keeps you from getting sick. Vaccines teach your body to attack certain viruses, like the hepatitis A virus.

The hepatitis A vaccine is given through a shot. Children can get the vaccine after they turn 2 years old. Children aged 2 to 18 will need three shots. The shots are spread out over a year. Adults get two or three shots over 6 to 12 months.

You need all of the shots to be protected. If you miss a shot, call your doctor or clinic right away to set up a new appointment.

You can protect yourself and others from hepatitis A in these ways, too:

Person washing his hands with soap.
Wash your hands to protect yourself.
  • Always wash your hands after using the toilet and before fixing food or eating.

  • Wear gloves if you have to touch other people's stool. Wash your hands afterwards.

  • Drink bottled water when you are in another country. (And don't use ice cubes or wash fruits and vegetables in tap water.)

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For More Information

You can also get information about hepatitis A from these groups:

American Liver Foundation
75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 1-800-465-4837 (This is a free call.)
Email: webmail@liverfoundation.org
Internet: www.liverfoundation.org

Hepatitis Foundation International (HFI)
504 Blick Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20904-2901
Phone: 1-800-891-0707 or (301) 622-4200
Fax: (301) 622-4702
Email: hepfi@hepfi.org
Internet: www.hepfi.org

You can get a free copy of each of these booklets by calling 1-800-891-5389 or (301) 654-3810, or by writing to

NDDIC
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3570

Hepatitis information for health professionals is also available.

Image of the Hepatitis B and C booklets.

Acknowledgments

The individuals listed here provided editorial guidance or facilitated field testing for this publication. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse would like to thank these individuals for their contribution.

Bruce Bacon, M.D.
Chair, Education
  Committee
American Liver
  Foundation
New York, NY

Luby Garza-Abijaoude,
  M.S., R.D., L.D.
Texas Department
  of Health
Austin, TX

Thelma Thiel,
  R.N., B.A.
Hepatitis Foundation
  International
Cedar Grove, NJ

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