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General Medicine

Hepatitis A

Marie L Borum, MD, EdD, MPH and Gabriel J Diaz, CRNP-BC, MSN Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a small nonenveloped single stranded RNA virus. HAV infections are common worldwide primarily involving the liver. 

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Incidence

  • 1.5 m...

DIAGNOSIS

Case definition for acute Hepatitis A (1) 

  • Clinical Criteria

    • An acute illness with a discrete onset of any sign or symptom consistent with acute viral hepatitis (e.g., fever, headache, malais...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Maintain appropriate nutrition/hydration; avoid alcohol especially during the acute phase

  • Universal precautions to prevent spread (eg, washing hands, proper handling of food a...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Return to work/school 10 to 14 days after onset of symptoms. Maintain hygiene as patients remain infectious for up to 4 weeks from symptom onset. 

Patient Monitoring

REFERENCES

1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A questions and answers for health professionals. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/havfaq.htm. Accessed October 30, 2023.
2
Desai AN, K...

ADDITIONAL READING

Yang J, Wang D, Li Y, et al. Metabolomics in viral hepatitis: advances and review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023;13:1189417. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1189417...

SEE ALSO

  • Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C

  • Algorithms: Cirrhosis; Hyperbilirubinemia and Jaundice

CODES

ICD10

B15.9 Hepatitis A without hepatic coma 

SNOMED

  • 25102003 acute type A viral hepatitis (disorder)

  • 310875001 Hepatitis A - current infection (finding)

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • HAV vaccine is indicated for all children, travelers (particularly to endemic areas), those at elevated risk of disease, and patients with liver impairment.

  • Check HAV IgG in all HIV-pos...

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Related Images
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Chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis. A photomicrograph of the liver from a patient with long-standing chronic active hepatitis B shows hepatocellular nodules and chronically inflamed fibrous septa.

 

Chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis. A photomicrograph of the liver from a patient with long-standing chronic active hepatitis B shows hepato...

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