Which of the following is a characteristic symptom of hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is typically characterized by a set of symptoms that are more benign in nature compared to other forms of viral hepatitis, such as hepatitis B or C. Patients often present with nonspecific symptoms including nausea, fever, fatigue, and a general feeling of malaise. While jaundice can also occur, it is not universally present and the overall clinical picture tends to be milder and self-limiting.

The hallmark of hepatitis A is that it rarely leads to chronic liver disease or significant complications such as liver failure. As a result, the benign symptoms align with the main presentation of the illness, making them a characteristic feature of hepatitis A. This aligns with the pattern where, despite the potential for elevated liver enzymes, many individuals recover fully without long-term effects.