ABCs of Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). 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.

How hepatitis A spreads

HAV is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected and can be spread when someone ingests the virus. This usually happens through eating or drinking contaminated food or drink or through close personal contact with an infected person. Hepatitis A is very contagious, and you can spread the virus even if you don’t have any symptoms.

Hepatitis A prevention

Hepatitis A is prevented with a safe and effective vaccine, which is recommended for all children starting at the age of 12 months and for adults who may be at risk.

Since hepatitis A vaccine was first recommended in 1996, cases of hepatitis A in the United States have declined dramatically. Unfortunately, adult vaccination rates remain low, and in recent years, the number of people infected has increased because of multiple outbreaks of hepatitis A across the US.

While hepatitis A can affect anyone, certain groups are at greater risk for being infected in these outbreaks. To help stop the outbreaks, CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccine for people who use drugs (including drugs that are not injected), people experiencing homelessness, men who have sex with men, people with liver disease, and people who are or were recently in jail or prison.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by an infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Some people who become infected can go on to develop a chronic, or lifelong, infection. Over time, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious liver damage, and even liver cancer.

How hepatitis B spreads

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids — even in microscopic amounts — from a person infected with the virus enter the body of someone who is not infected or has not been vaccinated. This can happen through:

• Sexual contact.
• Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment.
• From mother-to-child during pregnancy or delivery.

Hepatitis B testing

CDC recommends that all adults get tested for hepatitis B at least once in their lifetime and that pregnant people get tested during each pregnancy. There are also some people who should be tested periodically, including:

• People with ongoing risk for exposures.
• Infants born to a parent with HBV infection.

Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, treatments are available for chronic HBV that can delay or reduce the risk of developing liver cancer.

Hepatitis B prevention

Hepatitis B can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine. CDC recommends the following groups get vaccinated against hepatitis B:

• All infants.
• All children and adolescents younger than 19 who have not been vaccinated.
• Adults ages 19–59.
• Adults ages 60 and older at higher risk for hepatitis B who have not been vaccinated.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a disease caused by an infection of the liver with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). For some people, hepatitis C is a mild, short-term illness, but for more than half of people who become infected, it becomes a chronic infection that can lead to liver disease and liver cancer.

How hepatitis C spreads

Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person infected with HCV — even microscopic amounts — enters the body of someone who is not infected. Most people get infected with HCV by sharing needles, syringes, or other paraphernalia used for injection drug use

While less common, hepatitis C can also spread through:

• Health care exposures.
• Sexual contact.
• From mother-to-child during pregnancy or delivery.
• Tattoos and body piercings from unlicensed, unregulated facilities or in informal settings.

Hepatitis C testing

People with hepatitis C often have no symptoms, so testing is the only way to know if you are infected. CDC recommends that all adults get tested at least once in their lifetime and that pregnant people get tested during each pregnancy. In addition, anyone with ongoing risk or certain medical conditions should get tested. There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, but treatments are available that can cure hepatitis C. Most people with hepatitis C can be cured within just 8–12 weeks of treatment. Testing is the first step.