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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staff
Continuing signs and symptoms of hepatitis A
A small number of people with hepatitis A will continue to experience signs and symptoms of infection for several weeks longer than usual. For these people, hepatitis A signs and symptoms may go away and then reappear over several weeks. Though the signs and symptoms occur over a longer period of time, this form of hepatitis A infection is not more serious than a hepatitis A infection that causes the usual signs and symptoms.
Acute liver failure
In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause acute liver failure, which is a loss of liver function that occurs suddenly. People with the highest risk of this complication include those with chronic liver diseases and older adults. Acute liver failure requires hospitalization for monitoring and treatment. In some cases, people with acute liver failure may require a liver transplant.
- FAQs for the public. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/A/aFAQ.htm. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Hepatitis A. American Liver Foundation. http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/hepatitisa. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- What I need to know about hepatitis A. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepa_ez/index.htm. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Sjogren MH. Hepatitis A. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/151959187-3/0/1389/0.html. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Fiore AE, et al. Prevention of hepatitis A through active or passive immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recommendations and Reports. 2006;55:1. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5507a1.htm. Accessed July 28, 2009.
- Novak R, et al. Update: Prevention of hepatitis A after exposure to hepatitis A virus and in international travelers. Updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Weekly. 2007;56:1080. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5641a3.htm. Accessed July 28, 2009.
- Nguyen CT, et al. Hepatitis vaccination and prophylaxis. Clinics in Liver Disease. 2009;13:317.
- Milk thistle. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/milkthistle/ataglance.htm. Accessed July 29, 2009.
