Viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is a disease of the liver caused by a virus. Hepatitis, which causes liver inflammation and damage, can be acute (typically lasting less than six months) or chronic (a long-term condition).

Viral hepatitis is a serious, preventable public health threat that puts those who are infected at increased risk for liver disease, scarring of the liver that can result in cirrhosis, cancer and death. Tens of thousands of people are newly infected every year in the United States. In many cases, people are unaware that they have been infected.

More about viral hepatitis

Most Common Types

The three most common viruses that cause hepatitis are:

Hepatis A, which generally causes a mild or severe short-term illness and spreads through close person-to-person contact or by eating or drinking contaminated food or liquids.

Hepatitis B, which can involve either a short or a serious, long-term illness and spreads through contact with blood or other body fluids. Hepatitis B can be suppressed with oral medication, but not cured.

Hepatitis C, which can range from a mild illness to a serious, long-term illness, spreads through contact with blood. Hepatitis C can be cured with oral medication, but when left untreated, it can lead to serious liver problems, such as damage, scarring or cancer. Both chronic hepatitis B and C are systemic diseases that can cause symptoms and illness in organs other than the liver.

Two other types of hepatitis, hepatitis D and E, are considered less common in the U.S. Only people with hepatitis B can contract hepatitis D, while hepatitis E is common in many parts of the world where sanitation is poor.

Symptoms and Treatment

People with viral hepatitis may experience fever; yellow skin or eyes; dark urine or clay-colored stools; diarrhea (hepatitis A only); feeling tired or loss of appetite; joint pain; and nausea, stomach pain or throwing up. People who have hepatitis but don’t have symptoms can still spread the disease.

Getting tested for hepatitis is the only way to know you have the virus. All adults 18 years of age and older should get screened for hepatitis B at least once in their lifetime, and certain people should be tested more often (pregnant women with each pregnancy, infants born to women with hepatitis B infection and women at ongoing risk for exposure such as injection drug use). For hepatitis C, which may not cause typical hepatitis symptoms but may cause fatigue and depression that may not be attributed to the hepatitis C infection, testing is recommended for all adults 18 years of age and older, especially pregnant women and anyone with recent exposure.

Treatment of hepatitis A and B usually involves rest, eating a well-balanced diet and getting enough fluids. There are no medications for acute hepatitis B, but there are some medications that can be helpful for some individuals with chronic hepatitis B. People diagnosed with hepatitis C should talk to a doctor about starting the most appropriate treatment; most treatments involve 8-12 weeks of pills.

Prevention

Vaccines are available to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B, and most infants or children are routinely vaccinated. Anyone who has not previously been vaccinated should be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.

Handwashing also plays an important role in preventing some forms of hepatitis. Other forms of prevention include practicing safe sex and avoiding sharing needles or other activities that involve exposure to blood, such as non-professional tattoos.

There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, but there are ways to reduce the risk of infection: Avoid sharing or reusing needles, syringes or medical equipment; do not use personal items that have come into contact with the blood of a person who has hepatitis C; and do not get tattoos or body piercings from unlicensed facilities or in informal settings.