{"id":19897,"date":"2020-02-04T06:27:48","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T06:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=19897"},"modified":"2021-10-15T02:08:11","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T02:08:11","slug":"14-symptoms-of-hepatitis-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/14-symptoms-of-hepatitis-a\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Symptoms of Hepatitis A"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Hepatitis A is an infection that you can contract if infected stool comes into contact with your food, water, or skin. While this might sound like an unlikely occurrence, the truth is that there are many ways that hepatitis A can spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition is a viral infection that causes fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, muscle pain, and more. It also causes a low-grade fever and numerous other potential symptoms. This is a somewhat serious condition, and while it will often be self-limiting, it is highly recommended that you see a doctor at your earliest convenience in order to get treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, it is actually recommended that you see a doctor as soon as you notice someone close to you has become infected with the condition. For that reason, you need to be able to quickly and easily identify the symptoms. In this post, you will learn a host of different symptoms that point to a case of hepatitis A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hepatitis A is caused by a viral infection, and like most viral infections, this means it is likely to cause a fever. A fever is your body\u2019s way of trying to drive out the infection. It does this by increasing the temperature of your body in order to make it a \u201cless hospitable\u201d environment for the germs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people will try and fight the fever <\/a>by cooling their bodies down with ice packs and flannels. This is actually mistaken, as you will find you this way lose the benefits that the fever is attempting to accomplish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you have a fever, it is, therefore, better to simply manage the symptoms it may lead to. For instance, keep the room cool in order to ensure you don\u2019t feel too uncomfortable. Likewise, make sure that you keep drinking plenty of water: the most serious complication from fever is dehydration and this is common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, you should keep monitoring your temperature to ensure that it doesn\u2019t get too high \u2013 in which case you should speak with a physician. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Dark Urine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common symptoms of hepatitis A is dark urine, and this can be useful for helping you to differentiate it from other types of infection. The reason this occurs is that hepatitis is actually an infection that attacks the liver. This does not typically lead to liver disease, however, it still need s to be monitored carefully. Hepatitis B<\/a> and C meanwhile are known to lead to chronic liver disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often this darker urine will not show up until several days after the initial fever and other symptoms. The liver is responsible for clearing toxins out of the body and expelling them via the urine, so it should come as no surprise that liver infection should cause a change in color in the urine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Yellow Skin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yellowing skin is technically referred to as jaundice. This is commonly caused by hepatitis A<\/a> and other infections\/illnesses that attack the liver. Again, the reason this happens is that the liver is responsible for helping to clear the unwanted toxins and waste from the bloodstream. With this process gone, the body is now free to accumulate unwanted toxins. This, in turn, can cause a build-up that actually has the same yellowish color that you see in your urine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, while it may be very unpleasant to think of: the yellow skin you notice when you have hepatitis A is actually caused by urine <\/em>that is moving around your body close to your skin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Contagion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While the means of contracting hepatitis A is not a symptom in itself, it can be used similarly to a symptom <\/a>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Onset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Also useful to keep in mind, is that the first symptoms may not show up for 15-50 days after you have come into contact with the virus<\/a>. This means that if you have been traveling somewhere that makes it likely you could have contracted the virus, you won\u2019t necessarily see the symptoms immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even once the symptoms initially kick in, it won\u2019t necessarily be instantly obvious that you are experiencing hepatitis A. That\u2019s because the most specific symptoms that we associate with the condition won\u2019t often show up until we are several days into the illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to think not only about what you have been doing recently then but also about what you may have been doing 15 days ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Yellow Eyes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yellow eyes are another sign of jaundice that is caused by liver damage. Here, the liver is not functioning properly, and this has allowed large amounts of toxins and waste chemicals <\/a>to build up in the blood. These then move around the blood close to the skin, making it appear yellowish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can occur even more obviously behind the eyes, owing to their translucent nature. You may notice that the tiny blood vessels have a noticeable yellow tinge and that this creates the appearance of having entirely yellow eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice this, then keep in mind that there are many other potential causes of jaundice, including liver disease, gallstones, and tumors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The yellow build-up of toxins is actually what is known as \u201cbilirubin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Light Colored Bowel Movements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While we largely associate the liver with urine, it also plays an important role in helping the body to clear toxins <\/a>via stool and bowel movements. Therefore, if you notice that you have a light-colored stool, or that your stool otherwise looks somewhat different, this can be another useful aspect to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More specifically, this light-colored stool is caused by the release of \u201cbile salts\u201d that are released into the stool by the liver. Usually, the liver will produce quantities of bile which it uses in order to break down those salts. When the liver stops producing these, they can then enter the stool, resulting in the light color that you see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, this can have many other causes including gallstones, liver disease, and cancer \u2013 so you should always check with your physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Stomach Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stomach pain is caused by inflammation <\/a>of the liver, which causes pain in the organ and also the surrounding tissues. You may find that this is made worse when you are forced to vomit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, the stomach pain will likely be felt in the upper right part of the stomach, which is where the liver is located. This can be a useful method for differentiating between liver disease and other infections. However, it\u2019s worth pointing out that any condition that affects the liver may cause the same kind of stomach ache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With all these symptoms, it is important to think about the combination of different factors together, rather than viewing any single aspect in isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Vomiting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vomiting <\/a>is common with Hepatitis A, which is because the body is attempting to try and drive out the infection. Often when we feel sick or unwell, the body will instantly assume that the cause is due to something we\u2019ve eaten, and thus it will try to rid the stomach of all contents.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This constant vomiting can be very unpleasant, as you will find that it is difficult when you are experiencing stomach pain and low-grade fever as well. This can also lead to complications. For instance, if the condition drags out, it may lead to malnutrition and low energy. Moreover, you might find that you have a loss of appetite. Despite this, you should try to continue to eat simple and bland foods to ensure that you are fueling your system with everything it needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vomiting can also lead to dehydration, and this can be further exacerbated by excessive urination, loss of appetite, and fever. This makes it extremely important that you continue to drink large amounts of water so that you are able to replenish the lost fluids. At the same time, this will help your body to flush itself out, more quickly aiding the recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Sore Throat<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like most viral infections, Hepatitis A will lead to symptoms that we often associate with flu or common colds<\/a>. These include sore throats, which can make it difficult to talk and may impair sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a sore throat, then you should try to manage this symptom by drinking more water. At the same time, you can try soothing your throat by boiling some warm water and mixing it with a little bit of honey and some lemon. This can also help you to fight the infection, as lemon is high in vitamin C which will strengthen the immune system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Extreme Tiredness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hepatitis A can cause extreme fatigue and tiredness<\/a>. This is due to numerous different factors. For one, the body is fighting a serious infection, and this is going to cause tiredness as a lot of energy is spent on that battle.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, extreme tiredness results from inflammation that is caused by the body trying to drive out the infection. Loss of appetite and poor sleep also lead to tiredness. On top of all that, the loss of liver function can cause tiredness direction as the blood builds up with toxins and becomes less efficient as an energy delivery system. Your muscles can ache due to fever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result is that many people who suffer from Hepatitis A feel extremely lethargic and unable to muster the energy or enthusiasm to do anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Spontaneous Bleeding<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In older patients, in particular, it may be possible to see signs of excessive bleeding<\/a>. This is caused by the build-up of toxic blood in the system, which can then cause bleeding through the gums, nose, and even the eyes. This can also cause easy and spontaneous bruising, such that dark patches appear on the skin with no obvious cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is another symptom that is a sign of serious liver failure, rather than Hepatitis A specifically. Thus this can also be caused by other conditions such as gallstones, liver failure, kidney disease, and more. You might also find that these symptoms occur in those with severe alcoholism. Alcoholism can take a severe toll on the kidneys and liver as they struggle to remove the toxic alcohol from the blood. Eventually, this can lead to liver failure. This is why someone with alcoholism might exhibit yellowing eyes and bleeding gums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to always consider lifestyle factors, risk factors, and the general context when attempting to diagnose any cause of symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Confusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Confusion is another common symptom of Hepatitis A. This is due to the brain being affected by the build-up of bilirubin, as well as the inflammation that is caused by an infection. When we suffer an infection, the body attempts to drive it out partly by causing inflammation throughout the body. This helps to isolate the infection, while also making the environment less hospitable. However, this can also affect other parts of the body, including the brain, which in turn results in confusion, brain fog,<\/a> forgetfulness, and even depression in some cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom is again most common in more elderly patients \u2013 typically those over the age of 50. That\u2019s because these patients are more likely to be suffering from a condition called fulminant Hepatitis. Here patients will deteriorate much more rapidly, potentially leading to coma and cerebral edema (bleeding in the brain). This can occur partly due to complete liver failure or disseminated intravascular coagulation. This makes it extremely important that you seek medical attention as soon as you suspect you may have Hepatitis A \u2013 especially if you are over 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Itchiness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Itchiness is another symptom that is associated with all causes of kidney <\/a>failure\/damage. This is once again caused by the build-up of bilirubin, which in this case is going to not only be visible through the skin but also cause the sensation of itchiness as it sits close to the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice that you are itchy on top of these other symptoms, then this once again makes it all the more likely that you are suffering from Hepatitis A or another kidney-related condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are many different symptoms associated with Hepatitis A, knowing the difference between this condition and other causes of kidney failure\/malfunction is what is most difficult. Look for signs of infection, and consider where you have been recently. Most importantly, speak with your physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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