Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus that’s spread in the poo of an infected person.
It’s uncommon in the UK, but certain groups are at increased risk. This includes travellers to parts of the world with poor levels of sanitation, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs.
Hepatitis A can be unpleasant, but it’s not usually serious and most people make a full recovery within a couple of months.
Some people, particularly young children, may not have any symptoms. But hepatitis A can occasionally last for many months and, in rare cases, it can be life-threatening if it causes the liver to stop working properly (liver failure).
A hepatitis A vaccine is available for people at a high risk of infection.
This page covers:
When to get medical advice
How you can get hepatitis A
Vaccination against hepatitis A
Outlook for hepatitis A
The symptoms of hepatitis A develop, on average, around 4 weeks after becoming infected, although not everyone will experience them.
Symptoms can include:
The symptoms will usually pass within a couple of months.
Read more about symptoms of hepatitis A.
See your GP for advice if:
Although hepatitis A isn’t usually serious, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis to rule out more serious conditions with similar symptoms, such as hepatitis C or cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).
It may also be necessary to test your friends, family and any sexual partners, in case you’ve spread the infection to them.
Hepatitis A is most widespread in parts of the world where standards of sanitation and food hygiene are generally poor, such as parts of Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Far East, the Middle East, and Central and South America.
You can get the infection from:
Someone with hepatitis A is most infectious from around two weeks before their symptoms appear until about a week after the symptoms first develop.
Read more about the causes of hepatitis A.
Vaccination against hepatitis A isn’t routinely offered in the UK because the risk of infection is low for most people.
It’s only recommended for people at an increased risk, including:
The hepatitis A vaccine is usually available for free on the NHS for anyone who needs it.
Read more about the hepatitis A vaccine.
There’s currently no cure for hepatitis A, but it will normally pass on its own within a couple of months. You can usually look after yourself at home.
While you’re ill, it’s a good idea to:
Speak to your GP if your symptoms are particularly troublesome or haven’t started to improve within a couple of months. They can prescribe medications to help with itchiness, nausea or vomiting, if necessary.
Read more about treating hepatitis A.
For most people, hepatitis A will pass within 2 months and there will be no long-term effects. Once it passes, you normally develop life-long immunity against the virus.
For around 1 in every 7 people with the infection, the symptoms may come and go for up to 6 months before eventually passing.
Life-threatening complications such as liver failure are rare, affecting less than 1 in every 250 people with hepatitis A. People most at risk include those with pre-existing liver problems and elderly people.
If liver failure does occur, a liver transplant is usually needed to treat it.
The symptoms of hepatitis A develop, on average, around 4 weeks after becoming infected, although not everyone with the infection will experience them.
See your GP if you think you could have been infected with the virus. A blood test will be needed to rule out more serious conditions that have similar symptoms.
The initial symptoms of hepatitis A can include:
These symptoms usually last from a few days up to a couple of weeks.
After the initial symptoms, the following symptoms may develop:
Most people make a full recovery within a couple of months, although the symptoms can come and go for up to six months.
Hepatitis A isn’t usually a serious illness, but in rare cases it can cause the liver to stop working properly (liver failure).
In addition to the symptoms above, signs of liver failure can include:
Get medical advice as soon as possible if you experience these symptoms. Liver failure can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.
Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus, which is spread in the poo of someone with the infection.
Most infections occur in parts of the world where standards of sanitation and food hygiene are generally poor, although there is a small risk of becoming infected in the UK.
You can get hepatitis A from:
Someone with hepatitis A is most infectious from around 2 weeks before they start to develop symptoms until about a week afterwards.
Hepatitis A is found worldwide, but areas where it’s most widespread include:
Although the chances of getting hepatitis A in the UK are much smaller than in other parts of the world, certain groups are at an increased risk.
These include:
People in these groups are usually advised to have the hepatitis A vaccine to minimise their risk of infection.
There’s currently no cure for hepatitis A, but it will normally pass on its own within a couple of months. You can usually look after yourself at home.
However, it’s still a good idea to see your GP for a blood test if you think you could have hepatitis A, as more serious conditions can have similar symptoms.
Your GP can also advise you about treatments and they may carry out regular blood tests to check how well your liver is working.
Go back to your GP if your symptoms get worse or haven’t started to improve within a couple of months.
The following advice may help:
While you’re ill, it’s also important to try to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.
You should:
Any close contacts, such as people who live in the same house as you, may be advised to have the hepatitis A vaccine to reduce their risk of becoming infected.
Vaccination against hepatitis A isn’t routinely offered in the UK because the risk of infection is low for most people. It’s only recommended for people at high risk.
People usually advised to have the hepatitis A vaccine include:
Contact your GP surgery if you think you should have the hepatitis A vaccine or you’re not sure whether you need it.
There are 3 main types of hepatitis A vaccination:
Talk to your GP about which vaccine is most suitable for you. All 3 types are usually available for free on the NHS.
If you’ve travelling abroad, try to plan your vaccinations in advance. They should ideally be started at least two or three weeks before you leave, although some can be given up to the day of your departure if necessary.
Extra doses of the vaccine are often recommended after 6-12 months if you need long-term protection.
You can find more information about the various hepatitis A vaccines on the NHS Fit for Travel website.
Some people develop temporary soreness, redness and hardening of the skin at the injection site after having the hepatitis A vaccine.
A small, painless lump may also form, but this usually disappears quickly and isn’t a cause for concern.
Less common side effects include:
Last updated:
29 May 2023