hepatitis A
noun
: an acute usually benign hepatitis that is caused by a picornavirus (Hepatovirus ahepa), 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
Of the pediatric vaccines on the CDC’s schedule that are missing from Denmark’s universal recommendations, just three — for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and meningococcal vaccines — contain aluminum salts.
—
Aria Bendix, NBC news, 26 Dec. 2025
Denmark also doesn’t recommend vaccines for rotavirus, hepatitis A, meningococcal, flu or chickenpox, all of which are on the schedule for children in the US.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Removing aluminum, or even issuing a warning about its use, would affect some of the most important childhood shots, including those for DTaP, hepatitis A and B, HPV, pneumococcal and meningitis.
—Elvia Limon, The Hill, 16 Nov. 2025
Some viruses were not spotlighted in the study; the authors say more research is needed on heart disease risk and RSV, HPV (human papillomavirus), hepatitis A, and others.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Oct. 2025
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Aria Bendix, NBC news, 26 Dec. 2025
Denmark also doesn’t recommend vaccines for rotavirus, hepatitis A, meningococcal, flu or chickenpox, all of which are on the schedule for children in the US.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Removing aluminum, or even issuing a warning about its use, would affect some of the most important childhood shots, including those for DTaP, hepatitis A and B, HPV, pneumococcal and meningitis.
—Elvia Limon, The Hill, 16 Nov. 2025
Some viruses were not spotlighted in the study; the authors say more research is needed on heart disease risk and RSV, HPV (human papillomavirus), hepatitis A, and others.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hepatitis A
Cite this Entry
“Hepatitis A.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hepatitis%20A. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hepatitis A
noun
: an acute usually benign hepatitis that is caused by a picornavirus (Hepatovirus ahepa), 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, infectious jaundice
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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