What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A (Hepatitis A virus infection) is a liver inflammatory disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus. Symptoms usually appear 2 to 6 weeks after infection and most cases present as acute illness. The main symptoms can be summarized as follows: early stages may include non-specific symptoms similar to a common cold, such as fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Subsequently, more distinct gastrointestinal symptoms gradually develop, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and aversion to greasy foods, which result from liver damage affecting digestive function. At the same time, the patient's urine may darken to a deep tea-like color, and yellowing of the skin and sclera (white of the eyes), known as jaundice, may occur. Jaundice is one of the characteristic clinical manifestations of Hepatitis A. In addition, some patients may also experience pain in the liver area and enlargement of the liver and spleen. Most Hepatitis A cases are mild and have a good prognosis, with full recovery achievable through appropriate rest and symptomatic treatment.