Hepatitis A | Symptoms

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

The hepatitis A virus is usually in your system for 1 month before symptoms appear.

When symptoms do appear, they can appear suddenly and include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Jaundice (the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes)
• Low-grade fever (fever up to 102°F)
• Fatigue
• Pain in your abdomen, especially on your right side
• Dark-colored urine
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle pain
• Itching

It is important to remember that some people who have the hepatitis A never develop any symptoms.

Young children are likely to have very mild cases of hepatitis A, while symptoms in older children and adults are more likely to be severe.

How long will I be contagious?

You are most contagious soon after you are infected and before symptoms appear. Adults who are otherwise healthy are no longer contagious 2 weeks after the illness begins. Children and people who have weak immune systems may be contagious for up to 6 months.