Symptoms of hepatitis A include flu-like symptoms, such as fever, nausea, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Hepatitis A may also cause jaundice , a condition that makes the skin and eyes look yellow and causes stool to become light in color and urine to become dark. Hepatitis A is a short-lived, or acute, disease.
Why does hepatitis A cause jaundice?
Hepatitis damages the liver, making it less able to move bilirubin into the bile ducts . Hepatitis may be acute (short-lived) or chronic (lasting at least 6 months). Acute viral hepatitis is a common cause of jaundice, particularly jaundice that occurs in young and otherwise healthy people.
Does hepatitis A cause jaundice?
Symptoms of hepatitis A can last up to 2 months and include fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, and jaundice. Most people with hepatitis A do not have long-lasting illness.
Can hepatitis A cause jaundice or cirrhosis?
What are the symptoms of the hepatitis A virus? Low energy is the most common symptom of HAV. Other symptoms include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, headache, itchy skin, muscle soreness, pain near the liver, and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
How long does jaundice last in hepatitis A?
The treatment of jaundice is typically focused on resolving or minimizing the underlying cause. With acute hepatitis, this usually means a strict period of bed rest with no physical exertion. 2 Depending on the viral type, the symptoms may take two weeks to a month or longer to resolve.
Is hepatitis A is curable?
There's currently no cure for hepatitis A , but it normally gets better on its own within a couple of months. You can usually look after yourself at home.
Is hepatitis A STD?
Hepatitis A is a virus found in human faeces (poo). It's normally passed on when a person eats or drinks contaminated food and water. It's also a sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on through unprotected sexual activities, particularly anal sex.
Does hepatitis A cause cirrhosis of the liver?
In rare cases, hepatitis A can be severe and lead to liver failure and the need for an emergency liver transplant to survive. Hepatitis A does not lead to long-term complications , such as cirrhosis, because the infection only lasts a short time.
Can your liver recover from hepatitis?
The liver usually heals from hepatitis A within several months . However, occasional deaths from hepatitis A have occurred due to liver failure, and some people have required a liver transplant for acute hepatitis A infection.
What is the best treatment for liver cirrhosis?
The main treatment for primary biliary cirrhosis is to slow liver damage with the drug ursodiol (Actigall, Urso) . Ursodiol can cause side effects like diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, and back pain.
What is the fastest way to cure hepatitis A?
No specific treatment exists for hepatitis A . Your body will clear the hepatitis A virus on its own. In most cases of hepatitis A, the liver heals within six months with no lasting damage.
What happens if you get hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and damage . Inflammation is swelling that occurs when tissues of the body become injured or infected. Inflammation can damage organs. Viruses invade normal cells in your body.
Can I go to work with hepatitis A?
In general, people infected with hepatitis A may return to work or school when they no longer have symptoms , but they must be sure to carefully wash their hands after using the bathroom.
Is hepatitis A for life?
Almost everyone recovers fully from hepatitis A with a lifelong immunity . However, a very small proportion of people infected with hepatitis A could die from fulminant hepatitis.
How long is hepatitis A contagious?
You are most contagious soon after you are infected. Adults who are otherwise healthy are no longer contagious two weeks after the illness begins. Children and people with weak immune systems may be contagious for up to six months.
Is hepatitis A contagious through saliva?
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is shed in feces but also in saliva . HAV RNA was detected in saliva in five out of six acutely infected patients with HAV viremia.
