Hepatitis A is a picornavirus that usually causes a self-limited diarrheal illness and acute hepatitis. Rarely, it can result in fulminant hepatic failure. Transmission of hepatitis A occurs by fecal-oral route, person-to-person household or sexual contact, or consumption of contaminated foods or liquids. In the United States, large outbreaks and epidemics occur approximately every 10 years with stable baseline prevalence between epidemics. Among cases of hepatitis A reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those who are at increased risk include international travelers, men who have sex with men, individuals who use illegal drugs, individuals at occupational risk for exposure, individuals in close contact with an international adoptee, and undomiciled individuals.

The typical incubation time is 28 days (with a range of 15-50 days). In young children (younger than 5 years), most infections are asymptomatic, whereas in older children and adults, icteric infections are almost as common as anicteric forms. Symptomatic patients infected with hepatitis A experience a constellation of symptoms, including fever, fatigue, anorexia, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pruritus (due to hyperbilirubinemia), and/or jaundice (typically preceded by onset of dark-colored urine). Physical examination often reveals hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory findings typically include elevated transaminases and bilirubin. An evanescent rash and/or arthralgias may be seen in 1 in 10 cases. Other rare extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis A include hemolytic or aplastic anemia, acalculous cholecystitis, myocarditis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, glomerulonephritis, and cutaneous vasculitis.

Hepatitis A is usually a self-limited disease that does not lead to chronic infection or chronic liver disease. However, 10%-15% of patients can experience transient relapses of symptoms within 6 months following the initial hepatitis A episode. Fulminant hepatitis A, with a case fatality rate of approximately 0.5%, can lead to acute liver failure and may require emergent liver transplantation.

Pediatric patient considerations: Most pediatric hepatitis A infections are asymptomatic or clinically unrecognized. Hepatitis A causes symptomatic illness in only 30% of adolescents and children compared with 70% of adults.

Immunocompromised patient considerations: Patients with underlying chronic liver disease, including chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C, are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to acute hepatitis A. Those who are at increased risk for severe disease include individuals with chronic liver disease and individuals with HIV.

Among pregnant individuals, there is no evidence to suggest that acute hepatitis A is associated with an increased case fatality rate, although it is associated with increased risk of preterm labor and gestational complications.