Types of Hepatitis

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHepatitis AHepatitis BHepatitis CHepatitis DHepatitis EWhat Are the Warning Signs of Hepatitis?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis D

Hepatitis E

What Are the Warning Signs of Hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis is common. Worldwide, 354 million people are living with hepatitis B or C. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around 3 million people will develop new, chronic cases of one of these viruses each year.

This article will help you understand how you might get each of these viruses, how you could pass them to other people, what illnesses they cause, and how they are treated. It also discusses the types of hepatitis vaccines that are currently available.

2:54Watch Now: The Five Types of Viral Hepatitis

2:54

Watch Now: The Five Types of Viral Hepatitis

Almost everyone who gets hepatitis A has a full recovery. There is avaccine for hepatitis Athat can be given to children or at-risk adults. Practicing good hygiene and handwashing can also reduce your risk of contracting hepatitis A virus.

With hepatitis B, the liver also becomes inflamed. Hepatitis B can be a serious infection that can cause liver damage, which may result in cancer. Some people are not able to get rid of the virus, which makes the infection chronic, or lifelong.

Blood banks test alldonated bloodfor hepatitis B, greatly reducing the risk of getting the virus from blood transfusions or blood products. There is also a vaccine for hepatitis B. It is recommended for everyone, from infants to adults, to prevent contracting the disease.

Hepatitis B can be diagnosed with blood tests. The tests look for certain types of hepatitis B antigens and antibodies. These include:

The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a protein that can be found on the surface of the HBV virus. Your immune system makes antibodies to HBsAg as a way of fighting the infection. The presence of antigens and/or antibodies can help your healthcare provider identify the phase of HBV infection and whether it is acute or chronic.

HBsAg is used to make hepatitis B vaccine. Normally a positive test for HBsAg indicates that the person is capable of transmitting the virus. But this test may be briefly positive in the 30 days after a dose of hepatitis B vaccine and the person not be capable of transmitting the virus.

The CDC recommends hepatitis B screening for all adults at least once in their lifetime, including those not at higher risk of exposure.

Hepatitis C is spread the same way as hepatitis B, through contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids. It can be spread via sex, but this is rare.

Like hepatitis B,hepatitis Ccauses inflammation of the liver and can cause liver damage that can lead to cancer. If untreated, Hepatitis C can develop into a chronic infection, which can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). However, there are now effective treatments for HCV.

Blood banks test alldonated bloodfor hepatitis C too, significantly reducing transmission risk from transfusions and blood products. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.

It causes swelling of the liver, but usually no long-term damage. People who are pregnant or immune-compromised are at greater risk of liver damage. There is no vaccine for this virus. Practice good hygiene and avoid drinking tap water when traveling internationally.

Which Types of Hepatitis Have Higher Complications?

The warning signs of hepatitis may be subtle, or there may be no symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, it is usually only after the disease has progressed. These symptoms may include:

Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis

9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hepatitis (Viral).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Global viral hepatitis: millions of people are affected.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis A VIS.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B or C infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B VIS.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interpretation of hepatitis B serologic test results.Conners EE, Panagiotakopoulos L, Hofmeister MG, et al.Screening and Testing for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: CDC Recommendations - United States, 2023. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2023;72(1):1-25. Published 2023 Mar 10. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7201a1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C kills more Americans than any other infectious disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis E questions and answers for the public.

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hepatitis (Viral).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Global viral hepatitis: millions of people are affected.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis A VIS.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B or C infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B VIS.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interpretation of hepatitis B serologic test results.Conners EE, Panagiotakopoulos L, Hofmeister MG, et al.Screening and Testing for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: CDC Recommendations - United States, 2023. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2023;72(1):1-25. Published 2023 Mar 10. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7201a1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C kills more Americans than any other infectious disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis E questions and answers for the public.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hepatitis (Viral).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Global viral hepatitis: millions of people are affected.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis A VIS.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B or C infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B VIS.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interpretation of hepatitis B serologic test results.Conners EE, Panagiotakopoulos L, Hofmeister MG, et al.Screening and Testing for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: CDC Recommendations - United States, 2023. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2023;72(1):1-25. Published 2023 Mar 10. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7201a1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C kills more Americans than any other infectious disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis E questions and answers for the public.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hepatitis (Viral).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Global viral hepatitis: millions of people are affected.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis A VIS.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B or C infections.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B VIS.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interpretation of hepatitis B serologic test results.

Conners EE, Panagiotakopoulos L, Hofmeister MG, et al.Screening and Testing for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: CDC Recommendations - United States, 2023. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2023;72(1):1-25. Published 2023 Mar 10. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7201a1

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C kills more Americans than any other infectious disease.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis E questions and answers for the public.

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