Most people think of hepatitis as something that sticks around forever - like hepatitis B or C. But hepatitis A is different. It doesn’t hang around. It doesn’t turn chronic. It hits hard, makes you feel awful for weeks, and then, for most people, it just… goes away. The problem? You won’t know you’ve got it until you’re already contagious, and by then, it might be too late to stop the spread.
How Hepatitis A Spreads - And Why It’s So Easy to Catch
Hepatitis A isn’t spread through blood or sex like other types of hepatitis. It’s spread through poop. That’s it. You get it when you swallow something contaminated with the virus - usually from food or water handled by someone who didn’t wash their hands after using the bathroom. It can also spread through close personal contact, like living with someone who’s infected or caring for a sick child. The virus is tough. It can survive on surfaces for up to 30 days. It doesn’t care if the food is cold or cooked - if it was touched by an infected person and not cleaned properly, it’s risky. Outbreaks often trace back to raw produce - strawberries, lettuce, or shellfish - handled by workers who didn’t wash their hands. In the U.S., outbreaks spiked between 2016 and 2019, mostly linked to homelessness and drug use, but foodborne cases still happen. The FDA recorded 17 outbreaks in 2022 affecting over 600 people. Here’s the scary part: you’re most contagious two weeks before you even feel sick. That’s when the virus is flooding your stool. By the time you notice jaundice - yellow eyes or skin - you’re already past your peak infectious window. Most people stop shedding the virus one week after jaundice appears.What Happens When You Get Infected
Once you swallow the virus, it travels to your liver. Your body doesn’t react right away. The average incubation period is 28 days - but it can take anywhere from 15 to 50 days before you feel anything. During that time, you’re silently spreading the virus. Symptoms come on fast. One day you’re fine; the next, you’re exhausted, nauseous, and your urine looks like tea. That’s because your liver is inflamed and can’t process waste properly. Jaundice shows up in 40-80% of adults. Dark urine? That’s 68-94% of cases. Fatigue hits 52-91% of people. Loss of appetite? Nearly 90%. Fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, clay-colored stools - these are all common signs. But here’s the twist: kids under 6 almost never show symptoms. If they get infected, they might just have a mild stomach bug. That’s why outbreaks in daycare centers are so common - the child doesn’t seem sick, but they’re spreading the virus everywhere.How Long Does Hepatitis A Last?
Recovery isn’t quick. Most people feel awful for about 8 weeks. Around 85-90% bounce back fully within two months. But 10-15% of adults - especially those over 50 - deal with relapsing symptoms that drag on for up to six months. Fatigue is the biggest culprit. A survey on the Hepatitis Foundation International forum found 82% of adults reported extreme tiredness lasting an average of 6.2 weeks. Some people get better, then feel sick again after a few days of feeling normal. That’s called a relapse. Reddit users reported this happening in 68% of cases. Each relapse lasts about a week. It’s not a sign the virus is coming back - it’s your body still healing. Liver enzymes - ALT and AST - usually return to normal within 12 weeks for 80% of people. For 95%, they’re back to baseline within six months. That’s the real marker of recovery. Blood tests confirm you’re no longer in the danger zone.
Who’s at Risk for Severe Illness?
Most healthy adults recover without hospitalization. Only 10-20% need to go in - usually because they’re dehydrated from vomiting or can’t keep fluids down. But age changes everything. People over 50 have a 2.6% chance of dying from hepatitis A, compared to 0.1% for children. If you already have liver disease - like fatty liver or cirrhosis - your risk of acute liver failure jumps. That’s rare, but it happens. Dr. John Ward from the CDC says age is the biggest predictor of severe outcomes. Pregnant women don’t face higher risks of complications, but they can pass the virus to their newborns during delivery. That’s why vaccination before pregnancy is so important.How to Prevent Hepatitis A - For Good
The best way to avoid hepatitis A? Get vaccinated. The hepatitis A vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines out there. After the first shot, you’re 95% protected within four weeks. After the second - given 6 to 18 months later - protection is nearly 100%. The CDC recommends all children get their first dose at age 1. Adults who travel, work in healthcare, use drugs, or live in areas with outbreaks should get it too. Even if you’re 60 and never got it, it’s not too late. If you’ve been exposed and haven’t been vaccinated, you still have a window. Getting the vaccine or an immune globulin shot within two weeks of exposure prevents infection in 85-90% of cases. Handwashing isn’t just good advice - it’s critical. Soap and water reduce transmission by 30-50%. Alcohol-based sanitizers? They don’t kill hepatitis A. You need real soap and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Clean surfaces with bleach. Mix 5-10 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water. Let it sit for two minutes on countertops, doorknobs, or bathroom fixtures. That kills the virus.