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Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Some people will have no symptoms at all (particularly young children) but many will have: -

• Flu- like symptoms (tiredness, general aches and pains, headaches and fever);
• A distaste for cigarettes;
• Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting and diarrhoea ;
• Jaundice occurs because your inflamed liver is unable to remove bilirubin (a substance in the blood). This causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to become yellow. It may also turn your urine very dark and your stools (faeces) may become pale. Jaundice can also cause itching;
• Abdominal pain.

The length and severity of the illness varies. You may experience flu-like symptoms for a week or so and the jaundice will gradually improve. Tiredness may last for a little longer (a month or two). You are likely to have completely recovered within a couple of months, although a few people may have relapses and symptoms may persist for up to 6 months.

Complications are rare and your liver is very unlikely to have any permanent damage.

However in older people and, on very rare occasions, the infection can be fatal.

 Once recovered from hepatitis A you are immune and you cannot catch the virus again.

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