What symptoms does hepatitis A cause?

Hepatitis A infection typically presents with an acute, self-limiting illness. Common symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite (anorexia), nausea, abdominal discomfort—particularly in the right upper quadrant—low-grade fever, and joint pain (arthralgia). As the disease progresses, patients often develop jaundice, characterized by yellowing of the skin and sclerae, dark urine (due to elevated conjugated bilirubin), and pale or clay-colored stools (reflecting impaired bile excretion). Some individuals may also experience pruritus (itching) secondary to cholestasis. Notably, a significant proportion of infected individuals—especially young children—may remain entirely asymptomatic, yet still be capable of transmitting the virus. Symptoms usually appear abruptly, with an incubation period averaging 28 days (range: 15–50 days), and most patients recover fully within several weeks to months without chronic sequelae.