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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffHepatitis A signs and symptoms typically don't appear until you've had the virus for a month. Signs and symptoms of hepatitis A include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the area of your liver on your right side beneath your lower ribs
- Loss of appetite
- Low-grade fever
- Dark urine
- Muscle pain
- Itching
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis A usually last less than two months, but may last as long as six months. Not everyone with hepatitis A develops signs or symptoms.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have signs or symptoms that worry you.
If you've been exposed to hepatitis A, you may prevent infection by having a hepatitis A vaccine or immunoglobulin therapy within two weeks. Ask your doctor or your local health department about receiving the hepatitis A vaccine if:
- A restaurant where you recently ate reports a hepatitis A outbreak
- Someone close to you, such as someone you live with or someone who is your caregiver, is diagnosed with hepatitis A
- You recently had sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis A
- You recently shared self-injected drugs with someone who has hepatitis A
- 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.
