Living with hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. Feeling generally unwell, nausea, loss of appetite and dark urine can occur as the illness develops. Tiredness may continue after other symptoms improve, so returning to demanding work or exercise may need to be gradual.

A clinician may arrange a liver function test or other review to follow recovery. Avoid alcohol and check before taking medicines, supplements or herbal products because the recovering liver may handle substances differently. Do not share advice or medication from another person.

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet and before preparing food. Do not prepare food for other people while your clinician advises that you may be infectious. Clean frequently touched bathroom surfaces and follow local public-health instructions about close contacts.

Sip fluids regularly, choose small nourishing meals if appetite is low, and rest between activities. Ask your clinician when work, school, travel and food handling are appropriate. Household or close contacts may need advice about hepatitis A vaccination after an exposure.

Arrange medical advice if vomiting prevents fluids, symptoms keep worsening, or you cannot maintain food and drink. Seek urgent help for confusion, unusual sleepiness, bleeding, severe abdominal pain, marked dehydration or rapidly worsening yellowing of the skin or eyes. A child, pregnant person or person with existing liver disease may need tailored advice sooner.

Ask how long you may remain infectious, which products to avoid, when liver tests should be repeated, and how to protect people at home. Ask whether close contacts need vaccination or assessment.