Who can get hepatitis A?

Exposure can occur during travel to places where sanitation is limited, in households or communities where infection is circulating, or through close contact with an infected person. People who handle food, share living spaces, or have certain health conditions may need tailored prevention advice. Children and adults can both become infected, and symptoms vary. Some people notice nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, dark urine, abdominal discomfort, or yellowing of the skin and eyes; others have few or no obvious symptoms. A symptom does not identify the cause by itself.

Ask a healthcare professional whether Hepatitis A Vaccination fits your age, health, travel plans, and exposure history. Wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food. If you live with someone who has hepatitis A, contact a clinician promptly because advice can depend on when the exposure happened. Do not share food preparation duties while unwell, and avoid taking unreviewed supplements if liver inflammation is possible.

Contact a clinician after a known exposure or if you develop feeling generally unwell, nausea, appetite loss, dark urine, pale stools, or yellow skin or eyes. Seek urgent help for confusion, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, faintness, or difficulty drinking enough. A Liver Function Test may be part of the assessment, but testing and follow-up depend on your symptoms and exposure timing.

Ask whether your health history or planned travel changes your risk, whether vaccination is suitable, whether close contacts need advice, and which symptoms require same-day care.