Hepatitis A

September 2007     View PDF     En español

Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus, or HAV. It is the most common type of hepatitis virus and it is preventable. It accounts for almost half of all hepatitis cases and about 100 deaths in the US each year. One in three people have had HAV. Once you’ve had HAV you cannot get it again, though you can still get other hepatitis viruses. Nearly all people with HAV disease recover without any long-term problems.

Hepatitis A appears as an acute disease in people. This means that there’s normally a sudden start of flu-like illness, a sharp rise in symptoms and then a short duration of being sick. Some people, though, will not have symptoms or confuse them with having the flu.
HAV is not related to HIV. It also does not increase your chance for HIV. However, a person can have both viruses at the same time, which can make dealing with each of them more difficult.

In general, hepatitis is a major health issue for many people living with HIV. It often refers to the different types of hepatitis viruses that people get. It can also refer to inflammation of the liver caused by other viruses, bacteria, alcohol, legal and illegal drugs, among others. Left untreated, hepatitis can lead to liver scarring, cancer, liver failure, the need for a transplant and even death. Although most liver disease in people with HIV is caused by hepatitis B and C, HAV can pose its own health concern for some.

This publication provides information on HAV. Other materials are also available from Project Inform. They include Towards a Healthy Liver, Hepatitis and HIV Disease, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis D.