Hepatitis A Summary Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. One type, hepatitis A, is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The disease spreads through contact with an infected person’s stool. You can get it from Eating food made by an infected person who did not wash their hands after using the bathroom Drinking untreated water or eating food washed in untreated water Putting into your mouth a finger or object that came into contact with an infected person’s stool Having close contact with an infected person, such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill Most people do not have any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may feel as if you have the flu. You may also have yellowish eyes and skin, called jaundice. A blood test will show if you have HAV. HAV usually gets better in a few weeks without treatment. However, some people can have symptoms for up to 6 months. Your doctor may suggest medicines to help relieve your symptoms. The hepatitis A vaccine can prevent HAV. Good hygiene can also help. Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food, after using the toilet, or after changing a diaper. International travelers should be careful about drinking tap water. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Find an Expert Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hepatitis Foundation International Hepatitis Foundation International National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Hepatitis A National Institutes of Health Statistics and Research FastStats: Viral Hepatitis National Center for Health Statistics Surveillance for Viral Hepatitis – United States, 2012 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Teenagers Hepatitis Nemours Foundation Children Hepatitis Nemours Foundation Hepatitis A American Academy of Pediatrics Array Hepatitis A Hepatitis A — children Hepatitis A Vaccine: What You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hepatitis virus panel Start Here Hepatitis A National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Hepatitis A American Academy of Family Physicians Hepatitis A Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research What I Need to Know about Hepatitis A National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Patient Handouts Hepatitis A Also Known As Hep A Array Related Issues Hepatitis A and HIV AIDS.gov Hepatitis A FAQs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers’ Health: Hepatitis A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diagnosis and Tests Hepatitis A Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Liver Panel American Association for Clinical Chemistry Prevention and Risk Factors Hepatitis A: Questions and Answers Immunization Action Coalition Health Check Tools Hepatitis Risk Assessment Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Men Protect Yourself against Hepatitis A and B: A Guide for Gay and Bisexual Men Immunization Action Coalition Journal Articles Hepatitis A
