Hepatitis A: How to Care for Your Child

Hepatitis A happens when the liver is infected by the hepatitis A virus. This can cause the liver to not work properly.

The liver is an organ in the right upper abdomen. It has several jobs, including breaking down fatty food, storing energy, clearing waste products from the blood, and making proteins that help blood to clot.

Hepatitis A is a virus that spreads through food and water, and on hands or objects contaminated with stool (poop). It can cause problems with the liver, and flu-like symptoms, belly pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Some people, especially kids under age 6, may have few or no symptoms.

Even without symptoms, someone can still pass the virus to others. It can take several weeks to 6 months for symptoms to completely go away.

Your child's health care provider did a blood test to look for the infection and to check how the liver is working. Your child may also get an ultrasound of the liver.

No medications are needed to treat hepatitis A. The virus will go away without treatment, although sometimes steps are taken to ease hepatitis A symptoms.

• Follow the health care provider's instructions for treating any symptoms your child is having.

• Do not give over-the-counter medications for pain or fever (e.g., acetaminophen or ibuprofen) or any other medications or vitamins unless you discuss it with your health care provider first.

• Do not give aspirin to your child or teen as it has been linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.

• Give your child all prescribed medications exactly as directed.

• Make sure your child rests as needed.

• Your child should eat normally and drink plenty of fluids. Small, frequent meals without fatty foods can help with nausea.

• To keep the virus from spreading, family members should wash their hands frequently, especially after going to the bathroom and before preparing or eating food.

Your child:

• Has severe diarrhea or weight loss.

• Has pain under the ribs on the right side of the belly.

• Is bruising easily.

• Has a swollen belly.

• Has severe itching.

Your child:

• Vomits blood.

• Has blood in the stool (poop) or urine (pee).

• Has severe abdominal pain.

• Is vomiting and cannot keep fluids down.

• Seems confused or unusually sleepy.

• Has trouble breathing.

• Appears dehydrated; signs include dizziness, drowsiness, a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, producing less urine or darker than usual urine, crying with little or no tears.

Anyone around your child who has not yet had the hepatitis A vaccine should get medical advice. Getting the vaccine or a special medicine right away might give some protection against the virus.