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Highlights & Basics
- Hepatitis A is one of the most frequently reported infectious diseases in the US.
- Hepatitis A is not a chronic disease.
- Transmission usually precedes symptoms by 2 weeks, but can be up to 7 weeks, when stool viral concentrations are highest. Patients are considered noninfectious 1 week after onset of jaundice.
- Symptomatic patients may present with abrupt-onset fever, abdominal pain, malaise, jaundice, dark urine or light-colored stools, or diarrhea.
- Immunoglobulin M antihepatitis A virus test should be ordered when a patient is symptomatic or hepatitis A virus (HAV) virus is suspected.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Images
Citations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A. [internet publication].[Full Text]
Kemmer NM, Miskovsky EP. Hepatitis A. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Sep;14(3):605-15.[Abstract]
Nelson NP, Weng MK, Hofmeister MG, et al. Prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in the United States: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, 2020. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2020 Jul 3;69(5):1-38.[Abstract][Full Text]
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29. Baba M, Hasegawa H, Nakayabu M, et al. Cytolytic activity of natural killer cells and lymphokine activated killer cells against hepatitis A virus infected fibroblasts. J Clin Lab Immunol. 1993;40(2):47-60.[Abstract]
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34. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Guideline No. 6: viral hepatitis in pregnancy. Sep 2023 [internet publication].[Abstract][Full Text]
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51. Koff RS. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of hepatitis A virus infection. Vaccine. 1992;10 (suppl 1):S15-7.[Abstract]
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