Hepatitis A: symptoms & diagnosis
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A has four stages. Not all patients experience all of the stages but being aware of them will help you to recognise them if they occur.
It takes between two and six weeks after you have been infected with hepatitis A for symptoms to appear, this is known as the incubation period and is the first stage. Although you may not have any symptoms at this stage you may be infectious (able to pass on the virus).
Stage three
During stage three you may have the following symptoms – these symptoms usually last for one to three weeks but can last up to 12 weeks:
- jaundice – yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
- dark urine (pee) and pale stools (poo)
- itchy skin
- your liver, spleen and lymph nodes may feel swollen and sore.
You may find some of the flu-like symptoms you were feeling during stage two get better.
Stage four
The final stage is known as the convalescent phase (stage of recovery). Most people fully recover from hepatitis A within a couple of months, however, it can take up to six months for all of the symptoms to get better. A small number of people relapse (their symptoms return) or develop serious complications.
Once you have fully recovered from hepatitis A you are usually immune (protected lifelong) and should not get the virus again.
How is hepatitis A diagnosed?
If you have recently been in contact with someone who has hepatitis A, feel you may be at risk of getting the virus or you start to have symptoms that may be caused by having hepatitis A, it is important that you visit your doctor.
Your doctor may ask you some questions about the symptoms you are having. They may also ask if you, a friend or family member have recently been travelling. If your doctor thinks you may have hepatitis A, they are likely to carry out a blood test to see if you have hepatitis A antibodies. If you had hepatitis A but have now recovered, you will have a different type of antibody in your blood.
Your doctor is also likely to do a liver function test (LFT), a type of blood test, to check how well your liver is working and if it is inflamed (swollen or irritated).
If you are worried that you may need a test for hepatitis A, download our factsheet: testing for viral hepatitis.
Treatment for hepatitis A
There is no specific treatment of hepatitis A; it is usually a self-limiting condition. This means that it normally gets better without any treatment. Any treatment given is usually aimed at easing the symptoms of the virus.
It is common to feel more tired than normal, especially during the early stages of the virus, so you may need to get plenty of rest.
Your doctor may give you medication to help with any sickness or some pain relief if needed. It is important to only take the dose (amount of medication) recommended by your doctor as these will be processed by your liver and taking too many may put your liver under more strain. Avoiding fatty foods and eating smaller regular meals and snacks may also help you avoid feeling sick.
Further Information
Looking after yourself when you have hepatitis A
Alcohol
Alcohol is a toxin processed by your liver and as a result can be dangerous for anyone with liver problems. It is strongly advised that you should not drink any alcohol while you are ill with hepatitis A.
Smoking
Smoking is dangerous to everyone’s health. Smoking can increase the severity of liver damage. People with liver disease are more vulnerable to infection and to poor health overall, so smoking or exposure to passive smoking is not advisable.
Diet
For most people with hepatitis A there is no special diet. However, eating a good, balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself well. Regular balanced meals containing protein (such as meat, fish or beans), starch (such as bread, potatoes or rice) and vitamins (in fruit and vegetables) is the best approach
If you are feeling or being sick and are having trouble eating, or are concerned about losing weight, you can ask your GP or hospital consultant to be referred to a dietitian (a specialist in nutrition and diet) for further advice. You can also find some more information about diet, cutting down on fatty foods and coping with eating difficulties in our ‘Diet and liver disease’ section.
Complementary and alternative medicines and therapies
Many complementary and alternative medicines available suggest they can ease the symptoms of liver disease. As with any other medicine, you should use them with care; before taking any medicine you should check with your doctor that it is safe to do so.
Most medicines are processed by the liver so they can be toxic to people with liver problems. Some can damage the liver and make you more severely ill. At present, healthcare professionals are not clear on the role and place of some complementary medicines in managing liver disease; more research is needed on their use.
Licensing has been introduced for some traditional herbal medicines. However, many herbal products are not classified as a medicine and so can be legally sold as food or cosmetic; this means there is no regulation of the product and so you cannot be sure how much of the active ingredient you are getting, or how pure it is. Unregulated products are not monitored or assessed for how effective or safe they are. Some remedies can damage the liver and make you more severely ill. It is wise to be cautious about the claims made about herbal remedies, particularly those advertised on the internet.
It is very important to discuss the use of these remedies with your doctor before considering taking them.
Support for those affected with hepatitis A
Please visit the support section of our website for information on Support groups in your area or visit our Useful Links section for other organisations who may be able to offer information and support. Other sources of information include:
www.nathnac.org – information on travel health, including how to protect yourself against hepatitis A, B and C
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk – advice on travel vaccinations
Please visit the support section of our website for information on Support groups in your area.