Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a liver infection that’s spread in the poo of an infected person. The chance of getting it in the UK is low.

Hepatitis A is not usually serious. Most people get better within a couple of months.

A hepatitis A vaccine is available on the NHS if you’re at increased risk.

Symptoms of hepatitis A

Some people with hepatitis A, particularly young children, won’t have any symptoms.

If you do develop symptoms, they tend to occur around 4 weeks after exposure to the hepatitis A virus.

Symptoms of hepatitis A include:

• feeling tired and generally unwell
• joint and muscle pain
• a high temperature (fever)
• loss of appetite
• feeling or being sick
• pain in the upper-right part of your tummy
• a headache, sore throat and cough
• constipation or diarrhoea
• a raised, itchy rash (hives)
• yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• dark pee
• pale poo
• itchy skin
• the upper-right part of your tummy becoming swollen and tender

When to get medical advice

Speak to your GP practice if:

• you think you may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus – emergency treatment can help prevent infection if given within a few days of exposure
• you have symptoms of hepatitis A
• you’re at increased risk of hepatitis A

Diagnosing hepatitis A

A blood test can check whether you have hepatitis A. It can also rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms, but which may require treatment to prevent more serious problems.

Your friends, family and sexual partners may need to be tested too.

Treatments for hepatitis A

There’s currently no cure for hepatitis A. It will usually get better its own within a couple of months.

Once hepatitis A passes, you’ll normally be immune to it for life.

Things you can do yourself

There are things you can do to help your symptoms and prevent the infection spreading to others.

Do

• get plenty of rest
• take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for any aches and pains – ask your GP for advice as you may need to take lower doses than normal or avoid certain medications until you’ve recovered
• have a cool, airy environment
• wear loose clothing
• eat smaller, lighter meals to help reduce feeling sick and vomiting
• wash your hands with soap and water regularly
• wash soiled laundry separately on a hot cycle
• clean the toilet, flush handles and taps more often than usual

Don’t

• do not drink alcohol
• do not have very hot baths or showers
• do not prepare food for other people, if you can avoid it
• do not share towels
• do not go to work or school until at least a week after your jaundice or other symptoms started
• do not have sex until at least a week after your jaundice or other symptoms started

Treatments from your doctor

Speak to your GP practice if your symptoms get worse or haven’t started to improve within a couple of months. They can prescribe medications to help with itchiness, nausea or vomiting, if needed.

Long-term hepatitis A

Hepatitis A can occasionally last for many months.

In rare cases, it can be life-threatening if it causes liver failure. People most at risk include those with other liver problems and elderly people. If liver failure does occur, a liver transplant is usually needed to treat it.

How is hepatitis A spread?

Hepatitis A is most widespread in parts of the world where standards of cleanliness and food hygiene are poor.

You can get the infection from:

• drinking unclean water
• eating food that’s been washed or grown in unclean water
• eating food that’s been handled by an infected person
• close contact with someone who has hepatitis A
• having sex with someone who has the infection – particularly if you touch their anus with your fingers, mouth or tongue
• injecting drugs using unclean equipment

Someone with hepatitis A is most infectious from around 2 weeks before their symptoms appear until about 1 week after the symptoms first develop.

The hepatitis A vaccine

Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A.

The hepatitis A vaccine isn’t routinely offered in the UK because the risk of infection is low for most people.

It’s only recommended for people at increased risk, including:

• close contacts of someone with hepatitis A
• people planning to travel to or live in parts of the world where hepatitis A is widespread, particularly if levels of cleanliness and food hygiene are expected to be poor
• people with any type of long-term (chronic) liver disease
• men who have sex with other men
• people who inject illegal drugs
• people who may be exposed to hepatitis A through their job – for example sewage workers, staff at homeless shelters, and people working with monkeys, apes and gorillas