This is because many people with hepatitis A do not get sick, do not go to the doctor and so do not have a blood test. They are not always caused by Hepatitis A. It usually takes about 4 weeks from contact with the virus until early signs of infection appear. Hepatitis A can be passed on to other people from two weeks before early signs of the virus are felt, until one week after the beginnings of jaundice. Hepatitis A can be passed on to other people even if the infected person is not sick and does not get jaundice. Most people are completely well again within 3 months.
Some people can feel tired and have poor energy levels for some months.
Some people need to be admitted to hospital, but this is uncommon. Death due to hepatitis A is very rare. There are no long-term effects as a direct result of hepatitis A infection. Hepatitis A can be detected through a blood test. As the symptoms and signs can be caused by other diseases, other tests can be done at the same time.