Hepatitis A history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]
Overview
History and Symptoms
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) can produce either asymptomatic or symptomatic infection in humans after an average incubation period of 28 days (range: 15--50 days)[1].
Illness caused by HAV typically has an abrupt onset that can include fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, and jaundice.
The case-fatality rate for HAV infection increases with age: 1.8% for persons adults aged >50 years compared with 0.6% for persons aged <50 years. The case-fatality rate is also increased among persons with chronic liver disease, who are at increased risk for acute liver failure[2].
HAV has an incubation period of about 28 days (anywhere from 15 to 50 is usual).
Symptoms typically last less than 2 months, but 10%-15% of patients still have symptoms or have relapses up to 6 months after the onset of symptoms.
Unlike other instances of Hepatitis (such as Hepatitis C), HAV is always acute.
Symptoms
Some persons, particularly young children, are asymptomatic.
When symptoms are present, they usually occur abruptly and can include the following:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored bowel movements
- Joint pain
- Jaundice
Children younger than 6 years of age typically do not show jaundice, while more that 70% of older patients do.
References
- ↑ Krugman S, Giles JP (1970). "Viral hepatitis. New light on an old disease". JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association. 212 (6): 1019–29. PMID 4191502. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help);|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ↑ Williams I, Bell B, Kaluba J, Shapiro C. Association between chronic liver disease and death from hepatitis A, United States, 1989--92 [abstract no. A39]. IX Triennial International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease. Rome, Italy, April 21--25, 1996.