Your Questions About Hepatitis A, Answered
Hepatitis A: straight answers to the questions people actually ask, with the figures behind them.
A liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus, spread when tiny amounts of stool from an infected person get into food, water or onto hands.
Key takeaways
- Childhood vaccine: 2 doses, starting at 12 to 23 months, given 6 months apart
- Adults who should be vaccinated: travelers to many countries, people at higher risk, and any adult who wants protection
- Most useful single change: Check whether you and your children have had both doses.
- Commonest mistake: Preparing food for others while you have symptoms.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What is Hepatitis A?
A liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus, spread when tiny amounts of stool from an infected person get into food, water or onto hands.
Why does it matter?
It can cause weeks of illness and, rarely, liver failure, and it is preventable with a safe, effective vaccine.
Childhood vaccine for Hepatitis A?
2 doses, starting at 12 to 23 months, given 6 months apart.
Adults who should be vaccinated for Hepatitis A?
Travelers to many countries, people at higher risk, and any adult who wants protection.
Time from exposure to symptoms for Hepatitis A?
About 15 to 50 days.
After an exposure for Hepatitis A?
Vaccine or immune globulin within 2 weeks can help prevent illness.
What is the single most useful thing to do?
Check whether you and your children have had both doses.
What is the most common mistake?
Preparing food for others while you have symptoms.
When should I see a doctor?
See your doctor for yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, loss of appetite or pain on the right side of the belly. Call 911 for confusion, extreme sleepiness, vomiting blood or easy bleeding or bruising, which can signal liver failure.
More questions, answered
How long does hepatitis A last?
Most people feel sick for less than 2 months, though some have symptoms that come and go for up to 6 months. Tiredness is often the last symptom to fade. Your doctor can track recovery with blood tests of liver function.
Can I get hepatitis A twice?
No. Once you recover from hepatitis A, you are protected for life. A past infection does not protect you against hepatitis B or C, which are caused by different viruses.
Is the hepatitis A vaccine safe?
Yes. It has been used widely for decades. Side effects are usually mild, such as soreness where the shot was given, headache or tiredness. Serious allergic reactions are rare.
Do I need a blood test before getting the vaccine?
Usually not. In most cases you can simply be vaccinated. Testing for immunity first is sometimes considered for people likely to have had hepatitis A in the past, such as those who grew up where it is common.
Does cooking kill the hepatitis A virus?
Thorough cooking kills it, which is why fully cooked shellfish is safer than raw. Foods that are not cooked after handling, such as salads, sandwiches and fresh fruit, are the usual route when an infected food worker spreads it.
Does hand sanitizer kill hepatitis A?
Alcohol-based sanitizer is less effective against hepatitis A than washing with soap and warm running water. Scrub for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet, after changing diapers and before preparing or eating food.
Related topics
- Hepatitis B and C: What the Evidence Actually Says (Liver Health)
- The Evidence on Liver Health, Without the Hype (Digestive Health)
- Returning Traveler Illness: What Published Guidance Supports (Travel Health)
- The Evidence on Adult Vaccination, Without the Hype (Preventive Care)
Where to go next
- What Hepatitis A Is, and Why It Matters
- Hepatitis A: A Practical Checklist
- Hepatitis A — the reference entry
- Infectious Diseases: The Complete Guide
- The Evidence on Tuberculosis Basics, Without the Hype
- RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus): Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
See your doctor for yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, loss of appetite or pain on the right side of the belly. Call 911 for confusion, extreme sleepiness, vomiting blood or easy bleeding or bruising, which can signal liver failure.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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