What are the symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection?
Often, people who are infected with hepatitis A virus will not have any symptoms. Symptoms of infection may develop over a period of several days. These symptoms may include: yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), loss of appetite, tiredness, dark urine, nausea, stomach ache, and vomiting. A person can contract the virus but not develop symptoms for almost 30 days. This is referred to as the incubation period. Some people never develop any symptoms. A person infected with hepatitis A virus can spread the virus to another person about one week before symptoms appear and while symptoms are present. Infected people without any symptoms can also transmit the virus. It is thought that children are less likely to develop symptoms as compared to adults. If you become infected with hepatitis A virus you will experience an acute (short-term) infection. Unlike hepatitis B or C, hepatitis A virus does not cause long-term (chronic) infection and liver damage, like cirrhosis or liver cancer. If
