Symptoms of hepatitis A do not occur in everyone who has the disease. The likelihood of symptoms seems to be related to age -- children, for example, are less likely to have symptoms than people over 50 years of age who become infected. If they do occur, hepatitis A symptoms usually appear abruptly and go away within two months. Common symptoms include jaundice, fatigue, stomach pain, and nausea.
An Overview of Hepatitis A Symptoms
When a person becomes infected with the
hepatitis A virus, it begins to multiply within the liver. Fifteen to 45 days later, a person may develop
hepatitis A symptoms. This period between transmission of the virus and the start of symptoms is called the "
hepatitis A incubation period."
Not everyone who is infected with the virus will develop symptoms, however. Some people may also have symptoms that are so mild as to go unnoticed.
Children are more likely to have mild symptoms. People over the age of 50 are more likely to have more severe symptoms.
Specific Hepatitis A Symptoms
If symptoms of hepatitis A do occur, they usually appear abruptly.
These symptoms (especially early ones) may be similar to the
stomach flu and include:
- Fatigue
- Excessive tiredness
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Low-grade fever
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Sore throat
- Dark urine
- Stomach pain (abdominal pain) on the right side.
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes) usually occurs several days (up to two weeks) after these early hepatitis A symptoms. When jaundice appears, the early symptoms tend to improve, although weight loss may continue.
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