Hepatitis A

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is found in the blood and stool of an infected person. It can be passed from person to person, usually through contact with fecal matter or contaminated food or water. Poor hygiene is often the cause of contamination. The virus may also be contracted from eating raw or undercooked shellfish that came from polluted waters.

The symptoms of hepatitis A include:

• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
• Itching
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pale or clay-colored stools

Diagnosis of Hepatitis A

If your child experiences any of the symptoms of hepatitis A, a pediatric gastroenterologist can perform the following exams and tests to make a diagnosis:

• Physical exam. A pediatric specialist may find an enlarged liver or spleen during an examination of your child’s body.
• Blood tests. Many blood tests are used to check for the different forms of hepatitis. Types of blood tests include:
• Hepatitis A antibody. A hepatitis A antibody blood test shows if the hepatitis A virus was or is present in the body.
• Liver enzyme. A liver enzyme blood test shows elevated levels of alanine transaminase (AST) and aspartate transaminase (ALT) liver enzymes in patients with a liver condition.
• Prothrombin time. A prothrombin time blood test measures the time it takes for plasma (liquid portion of blood) to clot and shows if the liver is working well.

Other tests used to make a hepatitis A diagnosis include:

• A type of nuclear medicine test called a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan
• Liver biopsy
• Ultrasound