Hepatitis A

Marie L. Borum, MD, EdD, MPH, MACP, FACG, AGAF and Vinay S. Rao, BA Reviewed 06/2020

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Hepatitis A infections are caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), a member of the Hepatovirus genus. This virus is one of the world’s most common infections and primarily involves th...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

Onset is often abrupt. Common initial symptoms include nausea, emesis and diarrhea, and headache.
Symptom severity increases with age.
Pediatric cases (<6 years) frequently asymptoma...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

Maintain appropriate nutrition/hydration.
Avoid alcohol.
Universal precautions to prevent spread
Monitor coagulation defects, fluid, electrolytes, acid–base imbalance, hypoglyce...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Return to work/school 10 to 14 days after onset of symptoms with diligence to hygiene (patients remain infectious for up to 4 weeks from symptom onset).

Patient Monitoring

REFERENCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A questions and answers for health professionals. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/havfaq.htm. Accessed September 24, 2019.

Irving GJ...

ADDITIONAL READING

Chaudhry SA, Koren G. Hepatitis A infection during pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 2015;61(11):963–964.
Linder KA, Malani PN. Hepatitis A. JAMA. 2017;318(23):2393.

CODES

ICD10

B15.9 Hepatitis A without hepatic coma

ICD9

070.1 Viral hepatitis A without mention of hepatic coma

SNOMED

25102003 acute type A viral hepatitis (disorder)
310875001 Hepatitis A - current infe...

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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