Dark urine, jaundice, and fever are telltale signs and symptoms of hepatitis A. Learn about these symptoms and more.
Hepatitis A, also called hep A, is a form of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) caused by the hepatitis A virus. This virus typically spreads through infected feces in food or water but can also spread through close contact with an infected person.
For most people, hepatitis A is a mild illness that goes away on its own. Symptoms usually get better within two months for most people but can persist as long as six months for some. Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic (long term) liver disease. In rare cases, hepatitis A can lead to liver failure.
Hepatitis A symptoms most often arise from liver inflammation, but sometimes there are symptoms in other organs, too. Symptoms usually appear between two and seven weeks after you’re exposed to the virus. Children infected with hepatitis A typically experience fewer or milder symptoms than adults.
Liver-Related Hepatitis A Symptoms
If your liver is fighting off hepatitis A, it can’t effectively do its regular job in the body, which includes producing bile to process waste, distributing fats through the body, and clearing toxins from your bloodstream. As a result, hepatitis A can lead to the following symptoms:
Dark Urine The liver produces a chemical called bilirubin. If the liver is damaged, bilirubin can leak into the bloodstream; it is then excreted into urine. As a result, your urine may appear dark orange or even brown.
Light, Clay-Colored Bowel Movements Stool color comes from the bile released by your liver. If the liver isn’t producing bile properly or the bile gets blocked, your bowel movements may look lighter in color.
Diarrhea Bile that is blocked from reaching the small intestine can cause inflammation and issues in your digestive system, including difficulty absorbing fats and nutrients.
Fatigue Your liver plays a big part in regulating energy in your body. When the liver is fighting a viral infection like hepatitis, it can lower your energy reserves.
Fever Any infection can activate your immune system, causing an increase in body temperature.
Joint Pain Up to 20 percent of people with hepatitis A experience joint pain.
Poor Appetite Hepatitis A can lead to a suppressed appetite.
Abdominal Pain Hepatitis A can cause stomach pain, specifically in the upper right side of your abdomen, just beneath your lower ribs, where your liver is located.
Nausea and Vomiting Backed up bile can lead to nausea and vomiting.
Jaundice As mentioned, if the liver is damaged, bilirubin can leak into your bloodstream. This can cause jaundice, which makes your skin and the whites of your eyes appear yellowed.
Other Hepatitis A Symptoms
In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause other symptoms outside of the liver:
As mentioned, hepatitis A typically clears up on its own without treatment. It usually takes up to two months for symptoms to go away. For some people, it can take up to six months to feel better. In rare cases, some people may experience relapsing hepatitis A, in which symptoms recur after they initially improve. This is usually self-limited, meaning it often goes away on its own without treatment.
Most people fully recover from hepatitis A and may even be immune to the virus for some time afterward. Recurring symptoms and reinfection with hepatitis A don’t happen often.
Rarely, a hepatitis A infection can lead to liver failure, a complication that’s most common in adults over 50 years old or those with other liver problems.
If you suspect that you’ve been exposed to hepatitis A or if you experience any symptoms, let your healthcare provider know. If you’ve already been diagnosed with hepatitis A, reach out to your provider in these circumstances:
Your symptoms last longer than two months.
Your symptoms worsen or don’t seem to be getting better.
Your symptoms are severe and don’t seem to getting better.
If there’s a chance that you’ve exposed your family members or anyone in your household to hepatitis A, a doctor may recommend a prophylactic medication or vaccination to help prevent them from developing symptoms. However, for these to work, they need to be taken within two weeks of exposure.
The Takeaway
Hepatitis A symptoms can include dark urine, clay-colored stool, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and jaundice. Most hepatitis A infections don’t require treatment and resolve on their own within two months. If your symptoms are severe, don’t seem to be getting better, or worsen, let your healthcare provider know.
