In this Article

• Hepatitis A facts*
• What is hepatitis A?
• What is the liver?
• What causes hepatitis A?
• Who gets hepatitis A?
• How could I get hepatitis A?
• What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?
• How is hepatitis A diagnosed?
• How is hepatitis A treated?
• How can I avoid getting hepatitis A?
• What should I do if I think I have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus?
• Hope through Research
• For More Information
• Acknowledgments
• Find a local Gastroenterologist in your town
• Hepatitis A Index

See your doctor right away if you think you have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus. A medicine called hepatitis A immune globulin may protect you from getting sick if taken shortly after exposure to the hepatitis A virus.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) supports basic and clinical research into many digestive disorders, including hepatitis A.

Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research. For information about current studies, visit www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

American Liver Foundation
75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603
New York, NY 10038–4810
Phone: 1–800–GO–LIVER (1–800–465–4837) or 212–668–1000
Fax: 212–483–8179
Email: info@liverfoundation.org
Internet: www.liverfoundation.org

Hepatitis Foundation International
504 Blick Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20904–2901
Phone: 1–800–891–0707 or 301–622–4200
Fax: 301–622–4702
Email: hfi@comcast.net
Internet: www.hepfi.org

Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. The individuals listed here provided editorial guidance or facilitated field-testing for the original version of this publication. The NDDIC would like to thank these individuals for their contribution.

Bruce Bacon, M.D.
American Liver Foundation
New York, NY

Theo Heller, M.D.
NIDDK, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD

Luby Garza-Abijaoude, M.S., R.D., L.D.
Texas Department of Health
Austin, TX

Thelma Thiel, R.N.
Hepatitis Foundation International
Cedar Grove, NJ

SOURCE: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House, NIDDK, NIH. What I need to know about Hepatitis A.
<http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepa_ez/&>