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# Basics about Hepatitis A
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/hepatitis_a_0501110821/
- Published: 2011-05-01T09:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:14:43.000Z
- Description: Hepatitis A spreads mainly through food or water contaminated with stool from an infected person, including shellfish from tainted waters and food touched by an infected handler. Symptoms appear about 28 days after exposure, and illness lasts two weeks to three months.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Biological, Food Safety, #vivvo-import

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. The disease is spread primarily through food or water contaminated by stool from an infected person.

| **Sources**             | Shellfish from contaminated waters, raw produce, contaminated drinking water, uncooked foods and cooked foods that are not reheated after contact with an infected food handler |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Incubation Period**   | 28 days average (ranges from 15 to 50 days)                                                                                                                                     |
| **Symptoms**            | Diarrhea, dark urine, jaundice, and flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, nausea, and abdominal pain)                                                                             |
| **Duration of Illness** | Variable, from 2 weeks to 3 months                                                                                                                                              |
| **What Do I Do?**       | See your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of hepatitis A or think you may have been exposed to the virus. Tests can accurately diagnose whether you've been infected.       |

### *General Information*

[Hepatitis A](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hepatitisa.html?ref=foodconsumer.org) (NIH MedlinePlus)  
Trusted health information on causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.

[Hepatitis A](http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HepatitisA.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org) (CDC)  
General information, including frequently asked questions and patient education resources.

[Hepatitis A Virus](http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodborneIllness/FoodborneIllnessFoodbornePathogensNaturalToxins/BadBugBook/ucm071294.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org) (FDA)  
From the [Bad Bug Book](http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodborneIllness/FoodborneIllnessFoodbornePathogensNaturalToxins/BadBugBook/default.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org); provides basic facts, including associated foods, frequency of disease, complications, and target populations.