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

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is warning that several people may have recently been exposed to hepatitis A at a grocery store. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2024

But that was before a different catastrophe hit: the hepatitis A outbreak that killed 20 people and sickened nearly 600. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024

This isn’t the first time that Los Angeles jail officials have rapidly vaccinated large numbers of people for hepatitis A, according to Thursday’s the report. —Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024

Last week, the World Health Organization said two dozen cases of hepatitis A had been confirmed in Gaza by test kits the organization provided. —Ammar Cheikh Omar, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2024

There are no specific treatments for hepatitis A, with doctors typically recommending rest, adequate nutrition, and fluids, according to the CDC. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2024

For consumers with pre-existing health conditions, a severe case of hepatitis A can lead to liver failure. —Simrin Singh, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2023

In 2018, a hepatitis A outbreak in Massachusetts led to 563 cases and killed nine people, the department said. —Dennis Romero, NBC News, 13 Dec. 2023

There are no specific treatments for hepatitis A, with doctors typically recommending rest, adequate nutrition and fluids, according to the CDC. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2023

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