hepatitis A

noun

: an acute usually benign hepatitis that is caused by a picornavirus (species Hepatitis A virus of the genus Hepatovirus), is marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, darkened urine, and jaundice but may be asymptomatic, especially in children, and is transmitted especially in food and water contaminated with infected fecal matter

Note: Unlike other forms of hepatitis, hepatitis A is a short-term illness that does not progress to a chronic condition and does not typically cause permanent liver damage.

called also infectious hepatitis

Examples of hepatitis A in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Treatments for Viral Hepatitis Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation that develops due to an infection with different types of hepatitis viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, and C. Treatment options depend on the specific virus. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 25 Oct. 2024

The program has allowed millions of children to get routine shots for a variety of vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio and measles, and other illnesses such as hepatitis A and B and diphtheria. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2024

The breakdown of Gaza’s sanitation systems has also led to increases in hepatitis A, dysentery and gastroenteritis, according to Palestinian and U.N. officials. —Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 30 July 2024

Some teams aren’t taking any chances; British athletes are being vaccinated for typhoid and hepatitis A, and will be put on antibiotics after the race. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hepatitis A

noun

-ˈā 

: an acute usually benign hepatitis that is caused by a picornavirus (species Hepatitis A virus of the genus Hepatovirus), is marked by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, darkened urine, and jaundice but may be asymptomatic, especially in children, and is transmitted especially in food and water contaminated with infected fecal matter

Note: Unlike other forms of hepatitis, hepatitis A is a short-term illness that does not progress to a chronic condition and does not typically cause permanent liver damage.

called also infectious hepatitis

see havrix