4. Contagion
While the means of contracting hepatitis A is not a symptom in itself, it can be used similarly to a symptom as a means to identify the condition. By thinking about what you have been exposed to and whether you could possibly have contracted the condition, it can be possible to narrow down potential causes for your symptoms.
With that in mind, hepatitis A can spread via stool, through sex, or by consuming foods that have been infected. The most well-known way for hepatitis A to travel is via stool, and while this might seem like something that would be unlikely to affect you, the truth is that many of us are exposed to stool on a regular basis. For example, many studies show that tap water can actually sometimes contain traces of hepatitis A, which is of course due to the way that the sewage system works.
Likewise, it is possible that they may have contracted hepatitis A while traveling. One demonstration that helps to illustrate just how easy this is, is to take a single hair, touch it against some feces, and then dip it into the water you are about to drink. Now imagine that the same hair is a fly! If sanitation is poor in the area that you are staying, this is a very real possibility.