Hepatitis A is a contagious infection that causes inflammation of the liver, which can lead to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Your liver stores nutrients, helps digest food, prevents infection, and filters your blood. When your liver is infected and can’t do these tasks as effectively as normal, you can get very sick. There are several different types of hepatitis viruses, but hepatitis A usually clears up within a few weeks and does not become chronic.
Hepatitis A is very contagious and can be transmitted in several ways. The most common ways the virus can spread include drinking contaminated water, having close contact with an infected person, and eating food prepared by someone who didn’t wash their hands after using the bathroom. A vaccine can protect you from the virus, but anyone who hasn’t received the vaccine can be infected. Mild cases of the virus can clear up on their own, but doctors may prescribe medications to handle painful or severe symptoms. Hepatitis can easily be mistaken for other viruses or illnesses, but being familiar with the symptoms could help you recognize the virus if you catch it.
1. Fatigue
Fatigue is extreme tiredness or exhaustion that doesn’t go away with rest. This is the most common symptom of hepatitis A and other liver diseases, and it can have a big impact on your quality of life. While some people only experience minor fatigue, others can become completely bedridden while fighting off hepatitis A because they’re so tired. It can be difficult to complete even small and minor tasks with severe fatigue. You may experience cycles of exhaustion that repeatedly go away and come back, or you may experience constant tiredness.
Your liver is responsible for converting food into glucose, which your body stores to use for energy. Hepatitis and other liver diseases can cause exhaustion because they prevent the liver from producing and storing enough glucose. Hepatitis A can also weaken the immune system while your body tries to fight it off, and a weakened immune system is one of the most common causes of fatigue. Fortunately, the exhaustion will go away as your body heals from the virus. The best ways to manage the tiredness that comes along with hepatitis A are to get plenty of rest, get a consistent amount of sleep every night, eat healthy meals, and drink lots of water.
2. Nausea
Nausea is one of the most common symptoms of hepatitis A, and it’s often accompanied by vomiting. These are uncomfortable symptoms by themselves, but they can also cause other symptoms and complications. When you’re nauseous, most foods will upset your stomach, so it can be difficult to get enough nutrients. This can weaken your body, which makes it harder to fight off the virus. Frequent vomiting can cause dehydration, which can become a serious issue if it’s long-lasting. An upset stomach can also make you very uncomfortable, which makes it difficult to get adequate rest. If your nausea is severe, your doctor may prescribe an antiemetic drug to settle your stomach and prevent vomiting.
3. Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain and stomach cramps are common in people with hepatitis A. The pain may be especially severe on the upper right side of your abdomen, underneath your ribs. This is where your liver is located, so the inflammation may cause cramps. You may feel sharp cramps or pains that come and go, or you may feel a constant, dull ache. It’s also possible that you only feel pain when you put pressure on your abdomen. Just like being nauseous can make it difficult to get enough rest, having abdominal pain can prevent you from sleeping, which can slow down your healing.
4. Fever
Most people with hepatitis A experience a low-grade fever. A higher body temperature increases the amount of antiviral interferon in your blood, so your body can raise its temperature as a way of fighting viruses and infections. A low-grade fever on its own is not usually a problem, and it can be a sign that your body is working hard to fight off the virus. If you have hepatitis A, the fever will be accompanied by other symptoms. As long as your temperature doesn’t get too high, you shouldn’t worry about your fever. However, if your temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, you should seek emergency treatment.
5. Joint Pain
Joint pain is a common symptom of hepatitis and other liver diseases. You may experience pain whenever you move your shoulders, hips, elbows, knees, or fingers. This can make it difficult to walk or even to move at all. Like most symptoms of hepatitis A, the pain can range from mild to severe. Joint pain often occurs as a result of your body’s autoimmune response to hepatitis. The pain should go away along with the rest of your symptoms when the virus clears up. However, you should seek treatment right away if the joint looks deformed or if it’s completely immobile.
6. Muscle Pain
Muscle pain is very similar to joint pain and can also cause problems with mobility. The pain may be localized to a particular muscle group, or it may affect your entire body. You might only feel pain or discomfort when you move around, or you might feel constant pain. You may also feel muscle spasms, stiffness, or weakness. Like joint pain, muscle pain occurs when you have hepatitis because your body’s autoimmune response can cause inflammation. As your body fights off hepatitis, your immune system may also attack your healthy muscle cells. The pain should gradually lessen and disappear as you recover from the virus.
7. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is defined as loose or liquid stools that occur at least three times per day. This may be accompanied by abdominal cramping, bloating, and nausea. If you have severe diarrhea that lasts for more than a day or two, it could cause dehydration, so it’s important to drink lots of water. Dehydration can lead to other uncomfortable symptoms and can make it difficult for your body to fight off the hepatitis virus. Light or clay-colored stools are also common with hepatitis A. Diarrhea may be a side effect of medications that treat the virus, or it could be caused by the virus itself.
8. Itching
Hepatitis A can cause itching, also known as pruritus. Many people experience itchiness in a specific part of their body, most commonly the hands and the feet. However, the virus can also cause itching all over your body. It may be difficult to satisfy the itchiness with scratching, and some people report that it feels like itchiness extends all the way into their organs. Hepatitis can raise bilirubin levels in your body, which is associated with itchiness and dry skin. Some medications that treat hepatitis can also cause dry skin. Excessive scratching can cause skin damage, so it’s helpful to use moisturizing lotions to help manage the itching.
9. Weight Loss
Weight loss is one of the most noticeable signs of hepatitis A, and it often occurs as a result of the other symptoms. Nausea and vomiting can make it difficult to eat or keep food down, which will quickly result in weight loss. Exhaustion and pain can take away your motivation to get up and make food, so you may end up lying in bed without eating a full meal for days. Rapid and unintentional weight loss can lead to muscle weakness, and inadequate nutrition will make it harder for your body to recover. Eating enough healthy and nutritious food to strengthen your body and regain lost weight is one of the first steps in treating hepatitis A.
10. Yellow Skin and Eyes
Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and eyes and is a common sign of many liver problems, including hepatitis. As your liver breaks down old red blood cells, it creates bilirubin, a waste product that has a yellow pigment. Hepatitis can cause bilirubin to build up in your blood, which can give your skin and eyes a yellow hue. The severity of the yellowness depends on how much bilirubin has built up. You may only notice a tiny change in your skin’s color, or your skin and eyes might become obviously yellow until you recover from the virus. Jaundice is closely associated with itchiness, which is another common symptom of hepatitis.
