Viral Hepatitis Basics

About viral hepatitis

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver.

The liver is one of the largest and most important organs in a person's body. The liver is about the size of a football and, on average, weighs about 3 pounds. It is located on the upper right side of a person's body, behind the lower ribs. Almost all the blood in a person's body passes through the liver. The liver performs hundreds of functions, including: storing nutrients; removing waste products and worn-out cells from the blood; filtering and processing chemicals in food, alcohol, and medications; and producing bile, a solution that helps digest fats and eliminate waste products.

When the liver is inflamed or damaged, it can't do its job effectively.

Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus.

Cases can range from mild to severe, with many people not even realizing they are infected. The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Tens of thousands of people are newly infected with viral hepatitis every year in the US. It is a serious public health threat that kills thousands of Americans annually and is a leading cause of liver cancer.

Types

The three most common viruses that cause hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Hepatitis A

• Caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV).
• Contagious and spreads through close person-to-person contact or by eating or drinking contaminated food or drink.
• Usually causes a mild, short-term illness.
• Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection.

Hepatitis B

• Caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• Contagious and spreads through bodily fluids.
• Infection can result in acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) illness.
• Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection.

Hepatitis C

• Caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
• Many people with hepatitis C don't look or feel sick, so they might not know they have the virus.
• Untreated, hepatitis C can lead to serious liver problems, like damage, scarring, or cancer.
• There isn't a vaccine for hepatitis C, but it can be cured with oral medication (pills).

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of all types of viral hepatitis are similar and can include one or more of the following:

• Dark urine or clay-colored stools
• Diarrhea (hepatitis A only)
• Feeling tired
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, stomach pain, throwing up
• Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)

Symptoms of chronic viral hepatitis can take decades to develop.

How it spreads

Viral hepatitis is infectious and can spread before a person knows they are sick. Each type of hepatitis spreads differently.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is spread when someone ingests the virus – even in microscopic amounts. This usually occurs through close personal contact with an infected person, or by eating or drinking contaminated food or drink. Learn more about hepatitis A prevention and control.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is primarily spread when blood, semen, or certain other body fluids – even microscopic amounts – from a person infected with HBV enter the body of someone who is not infected. Learn more about hepatitis B prevention and control.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person infected with HCV – even microscopic amounts – enters the body of someone who is not infected. Learn more about hepatitis C prevention and control.

Prevention

While certain life circumstances and behaviors can increase your risk for infection, anyone can get viral hepatitis. There are steps you can take to prevent contracting viral hepatitis.

Hepatitis A and hepatitis B

The best way to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated. You need to get all the shots in the series to be fully protected.

Hepatitis C

There isn't a vaccine for hepatitis C. The best way to prevent contracting hepatitis C is to avoid behaviors that can spread the disease, like sharing or reusing needles or other personal items that might come into contact with blood that is infected with the virus.

Screening, testing, and diagnosis

Getting tested is the only way to know if you have hepatitis.

Hepatitis A

Your doctor can give you a blood test if you have symptoms and think you might have been exposed to HAV.

Hepatitis B

CDC recommends all adults get screened for hepatitis B at least once in their lifetime through a blood test. There are also some people who should be tested more often, including:

• All pregnant people during each pregnancy.
• Infants born to pregnant people with HBV infection.
• People with ongoing risk for exposures

For more information on testing recommendations, see the hepatitis B testing overview.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C usually doesn't have symptoms. Getting testing is the only way to know if you have hepatitis C. CDC recommends hepatitis C testing for all adults, all pregnant persons, and for anyone who may have been recently exposed. If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, see your doctor to start treatment right away.

For more information on those populations, see the hepatitis C testing overview.

Treatment and recovery

Treatment for viral hepatitis varies by type and severity.

Hepatitis A

To treat symptoms of hepatitis A, a doctor will usually recommend that you rest, eat a well-balanced diet and make sure you get enough fluids.

Hepatitis B

If you are diagnosed with acute or chronic hepatitis B, your doctor can work with you to decide the best treatment.

For people with acute hepatitis B and experiencing mild symptoms, health care providers usually recommend rest, eating a well-balanced diet and getting plenty of fluids. There are no medications for acute hepatitis B. There are some medications for chronic hepatitis B; they aren't a cure and are only helpful for some people with chronic hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C

If you are diagnosed with hepatitis C, talk to your doctor right away about starting treatment that is right for you.

Most treatments involve just 8–12 weeks of oral medication (pills). Treatment cures more than 95% of people with hepatitis C, usually without side effects.

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recommend treatment for all people with hepatitis C, except for pregnant people and children under 3.

What to expect long-term

Long-term impacts vary by type of hepatitis.

Hepatitis A

People who get hepatitis A may feel sick for a few weeks or several months but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage.

Hepatitis B

If you have chronic hepatitis B, it's important to find a doctor who understands the disease. Chronic hepatitis B can cause serious health problems, so your doctor will need to do regular tests to see how your liver is working.

Hepatitis C

Most people can be cured of hepatitis C with timely treatment.

If you don't get treatment, you can develop chronic liver disease, even if you don't have any symptoms for years.

Resources

See our hepatitis A resources, hepatitis B resources, and hepatitis C resources.