Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is spread when someone ingests the virus, even in small amounts. This usually occurs through close personal contact with an infected person (e.g., using drugs, caring for, or having certain sexual contact with someone who is infected with HAV) or by consuming contaminated food or water.
Symptoms may include dark urine or clay-colored stools, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, or jaundice (yellow skin or whites of the eyes). Some people, particularly young children, may not have symptoms.
Symptoms generally begin 2-4 weeks after initial exposure (range 15–50 days) and typically resolve within 2 months, though some people can feel sick for up to 6 months.
People with a weakened immune system, chronic liver disease, and people over the age of 60 years are at greater risk for severe disease.
There is no specific treatment for HAV; most people recover fully with rest and fluids.