Persons with hepatitis A can also spread the virus to household members and to sex partners. In rare cases, people have been infected after getting a transfusion of infected blood. Outbreaks of hepatitis A have also occurred among illegal drug users. The virus is not spread by casual contact, as in the usual work or school setting. Children infected with hepatitis A virus often have no symptoms.
Most adults have symptoms that develop over several days.
The average time between exposure to the virus and the development of symptoms is about 28 days. Signs of illness usually begin abruptly. Infected persons with no symptoms can still spread the virus. This often happens with young children who unknowingly spread hepatitis A virus to older children and adults. Unlike other types of hepatitis, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, hepatitis A causes no long-lasting liver damage.