Hepatitis A is a highly contagious, short-term liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis  is  an  inflammation  of  the  liver  that  can  be  contracted  through  unprotected  sex,  using contaminated needles, or other causes.

People who get hepatitis A may feel sick for a few weeks to several months but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage. In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death; this is more common in older people and in people with other serious health issues, such as chronic liver disease.