Hepatitis A is a liver disease. Hepatitis (HEP-ah-TY-tis) makes your liver swell and stops it from working right.
You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and stops bleeding. It removes drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy for when you need it. What causes hepatitis A? A virus is a germ that causes sickness. (For example, the flu is caused by a virus.) People can pass viruses to each other. The virus that causes hepatitis A is called the hepatitis A virus.
Hepatitis A is spread by close personal contact with someone else who has the infection.
You could also get hepatitis A by:
* eating food that has been prepared by someone with hepatitis A
* drinking water that has been contaminated by hepatitis A (in parts of the world with poor hygiene and sanitary conditions
Most people who have hepatitis A get well on their own after a few weeks.
You may need to rest in bed for several days or weeks, and you won’t be able to drink alcohol until you are well. The doctor may give you medicine for your symptoms.
