Viral hepatitis; Infectious hepatitis

Symptoms will usually show up 2 - 6 weeks after being exposed to the hepatitis A virus. They are usually mild, but may last for up to several months, especially in adults.

Symptoms include:

• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Itching
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Yellow skin (jaundice)

The doctor will perform a physical examination and may discover that you have an enlarged and tender liver.

Blood tests may show:

• Raised IgM and IgG antibodies to hepatitis A (IgM is usually positive before IgG)
• Elevated liver enzymes (liver function tests), especially transaminase enzyme levels

Images

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Digestive system organs

Hepatitis A

Erythema multiforme, circular lesions - hands

Review Date: 11/23/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)