How are the clinical findings in hepatits A

The clinical course of acute hepatitis A is indistinguishable from other types of acute viral hepatitis. Symptoms typically include

• fever
• malaise
• anorexia,
  
• nausea and abdominal discomfort,
• followed by dark urine and jaundice.
  

The severity of disease and mortality increases in older age groups. The convalescence following hepatitis A may be slow, and is characterized by

• fatigue,
  
• nausea and
  
• lack of appetite.
  

Complications of hepatitis A include

• relapsing hepatitis,
  
• cholestatic hepatitis and
  
• fulminant hepatitis.
  

Fulminant hepatitis occurs in approximately 0.01% of clinical infections and is characterized by rapid deterioration in liver function and a very high fatality rate.

Chronic infection with HAV does not occur.

No specific antiviral therapy is currently available.