Hepatitis

What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis means the liver is inflamed or irritated. The liver acts like one of the body’s filters. When the liver is sick, it can’t properly clean blood, fight off germs, or turn food into energy.

Hepatitis is commonly caused by a virus. The causes of non-viral hepatitis include toxins, certain medicines or medical conditions, and drinking too much alcohol.

The ABCs of Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are the most common types of viral hepatitis in the US.

A Quick Guide to Hepatitis A, B, and C*

*Learn more about hepatitis D and hepatitis E

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Feature	Hepatitis A (HAV)	Hepatitis B (HBV)	Hepatitis C (HCV)
How it spreads	Contaminated food/water or close contact with an infected person	Body fluids (blood, semen, or from mother to baby at birth)	Blood-to-blood contact (sharing needles, unsterile equipment)
Common Symptoms	No symptoms (most common in children). Fever, fatigue, nausea, and yellow skin/eyes (jaundice)	Similar to HAV when there are symptoms, but many people have no symptoms at all	Often no symptoms for many years until the liver is damaged
Liver Impact	Short-term inflammation. Does not cause long-term damage unless liver is also injured from another cause.	Can become a lifelong (chronic) infection, causing scarring of the liver or cancer	Many cases become chronic, leading to severe scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) or cancer
Vaccine?	Yes (2 doses)	Yes (3 doses)	No
Can it be cured?	No “cure,” but the body usually clears it on its own.	No cure yet, but it can be managed with medicine.	Yes. Modern pills can cure it in 8–12 weeks.

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Millions of people in the US are living with chronic viral hepatitis, and most do not know they have the virus. Many people infected with hepatitis do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected.

Keep reading to learn more about how each type spreads, can be prevented, is diagnosed, and is treated. Learn about the short- and long-term health impacts of viral hepatitis, including liver disease and cancer.

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Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV). It usually spreads through contaminated food or water, but it can also pass between people who live together or have close contact.

Hepatitis A is the most common disease international travelers may catch that can be prevented with a vaccine.

How Common or Serious is Hepatitis A?

• Hepatitis A can be serious depending on a person’s age and health.
• In children (not serious): Children under 6 who catch hepatitis A most commonly have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. This is why children can be “silent spreaders” of HAV.
• In adults (can be serious): Adults who catch hepatitis A almost always get sick, with symptoms that can last up to 6 months and may require a hospital stay.
• In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death. This is more common in people over age 65 or those who had a chronic liver disease before they caught hepatitis A.
• Hepatitis A is uncommon. Rates are currently declining after a spike that lasted from 2016 to 2021.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 3,300 new cases of hepatitis A in 2023, which includes 1,648 reported cases plus infections that were likely undiagnosed or unreported.
• This is a 28% decrease from the year before.
• While national numbers are down, local outbreaks still happen.

What Causes Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A spreads through close contact with someone who has it, or by eating or drinking something contaminated with the virus.

Who is most at risk for hepatitis A?

• Travelers: People visiting countries where the virus is common
• Specific Communities: Men who have sex with men, people experiencing homelessness, or people who use or inject drugs
• Work Risk: People whose jobs put them in contact with the virus (like some lab workers)

What Does Hepatitis A Feel Like?

Not everyone with hepatitis A feels sick. Adults usually have worse illness and symptoms than children do. Feeling sick usually happens 2 to 7 weeks after catching the virus. An infected person can spread the hepatitis A virus to others up to 2 weeks before symptoms appear.

Common Symptoms:

• Flu-like feeling: Fever, feeling very tired, and achy joints
• Stomach issues: Not feeling hungry, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Visible signs: Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice), dark-colored urine, or pale-colored poop (stools)

Prevention

The hepatitis A vaccine is the best way to prevent infection. It works nearly 100% of the time to stop the disease. Two or 3 doses of vaccine are needed for long-term protection.

Who should get the hepatitis A vaccine?

• Children: All toddlers between 12 and 23 months old
• Teens: Any child or teenager up to age 18 who missed the vaccine earlier
• High-Risk Adults who have not been vaccinated: Travelers, people with chronic liver disease, and others in high-risk groups
• Pregnant Women: Those at risk for infection or severe illness
• Anyone Else: Any person who asks for the vaccine to help ensure protection

After recovering from hepatitis A, the body develops natural defenses (antibodies) that provide lifelong protection. You cannot catch hepatitis A twice.

Treatment

There is no specific medicine or cure for hepatitis A. Instead, the goal is to help the body feel better while it fights off the virus. This includes:

• Drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
• Avoiding alcohol and any medications that are toxic to the liver
• Eating healthy foods
• Resting and avoiding heavy exercise

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Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can affect people of any age. While some infections are short-term, others become lifelong. Over time, a chronic infection can cause severe liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer, or death.

How do babies get hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B virus passes from one person to another through blood or bodily fluids. An infected mother can spread hepatitis B to her infant during pregnancy or delivery. Before hepatitis B vaccine was routinely given to infants, mother-to-child transmission was the most common way babies were infected with hepatitis B. But children can also get infected in other ways, like by accident at home or other places.

Many people with chronic hepatitis B do not feel sick for many years. However, the virus can still be spread to others even when no symptoms are present.

The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated.

How Common or Serious is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is much more dangerous than hepatitis A because it can stay in the body for life and cause cancer. HBV infection kills thousands of people in the US each year, usually due to complications from liver disease.

• Liver Cancer Risk: Hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cancer worldwide. Roughly 1 in 4 children infected at birth who do not receive treatment may develop liver cancer or severe liver scarring (cirrhosis) later in life.
• Age Matters: The younger a person is when they catch the virus, the more serious it is. About 9 out of 10 infected babies develop a lifelong, chronic infection.

Chronic hepatitis B is common, and often undiagnosed, in the US. Some experts estimate that 2.4 million people in the US are living with chronic hepatitis B and likely don’t know it.

What Causes Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is spread when blood or bodily fluids from a person with the virus enters the body of some who is not infected.

Ways the virus passes between people:

• Birth: From an infected mother to a baby during pregnancy or delivery
• Direct contact: Touching the blood or open sores of an infected person
• Personal items: Sharing everyday items that might have tiny amounts of blood on them (razors, toothbrushes, or glucose monitors)
• Needles: Either through accidental pokes or sticks from sharp tools or shared syringes (in medical or community settings)
• Sex: Through sexual contact with a partner who has the virus

Hepatitis B virus is tough and can live on surfaces for at least 7 days and still cause an infection. Because the virus is so strong, it can spread through tiny amounts of blood that can’t be seen by the naked eye.

What Does Hepatitis B Feel Like?

Hepatitis B often feels like nothing. Symptoms of a hepatitis B infection can be tricky, because people with the highest risk of chronic hepatitis B are the least likely to feel sick.

Common Symptoms

Infants, children younger than age 5, and adults with weak immune systems rarely have symptoms.

Older children and adults may have these symptoms:

• Flu-like feelings: Fever, extreme tiredness, and achy joints
• Stomach issues: Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
• Visible changes: Dark-colored urine, pale-colored poop (stools), and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)

Prevention

Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis B and potential long-term complications, such as liver cancer.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends universal hepatitis B vaccination for all infants. The first dose is given to infants within 24 hours of birth, followed by 2 or 3 additional doses to help ensure long-term protection.

Who else should get the hepatitis B vaccine?

• Infants and Children: All babies and older children and teenagers who missed vaccination at earlier ages
• Adults (age 19–59): All adults in this age group who were not vaccinated as children
• Adults (age 60+): Anyone who simply wants to be protected and persons with specific risk factors should be immunized
• People with Diabetes and Kidney Disease: Vaccination is a priority for these groups due to higher infection risks

Universal hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended for people who work in, live, or visit these locations:

• Clinics: STI and HIV testing or treatment centers
• Support Centers: Drug treatment and prevention facilities
• Correctional Facilities: Jails or prisons
• Specialized Care: Hemodialysis centers and programs for kidney disease
• Care Facilities: Institutions for people with developmental disabilities

Screening

Everyone age 18 and older should get hepatitis B blood tests at least once. Other screening recommendations include:

• Infants: Babies born to mothers with the virus should be tested at age 9–12 months (or 1–2 months after their last vaccine if a dose was delayed)
• Ongoing Risk: People who have a higher chance of exposure should be tested regularly
• On Request: Testing should be provided to any person who asks for it

Treatment

Treatment options depend on whether the infection is new or lifelong.

New (Acute) Infections: There is no specific medicine to cure a new hepatitis B infection. Instead, care focuses on helping the body recover.

• Mild cases: Rest, healthy food, and plenty of fluids
• Severe cases: Hospital care may be needed to manage more serious symptoms

Lifelong (Chronic) Infections: People with chronic hepatitis B need regular check-ups to watch for liver damage. While not everyone needs medication, a healthcare professional will evaluate the liver to see if treatment is needed based on specialist guidelines.

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Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV spreads through contact with infected blood.

It can be a short-term illness, but for most people, it becomes a lifelong (chronic) infection. People with HCV usually do not feel sick and are unaware they have the virus until it causes serious liver damage or life-threatening problems.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, so the best way to prevent infection is to avoid contact with infected blood.

Testing and diagnosis are important, because treatment of HCV is better than ever. Medical advances have made it possible to fully cure the infection in just a few months.

How Common or Serious is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is one of the most common chronic blood-borne infections in the US. Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver transplants and liver cancer deaths.

Even with a cure available, hepatitis C continues to be a leading cause of death among infectious diseases in the US because most infected people do not know that they are infected.

People can be infected with hepatitis C for years without feeling any pain or symptoms. By the time a person feels sick, they are often already in liver failure or have developed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is widespread in the US.

• New Cases: Rates of new hepatitis C went up from 2011 to 2020 (partly because of the opioid crisis and shared needles), and then stayed about the same from 2020 to 2023
• Total Impact: Approximately 2.4 to 4 million people in the US are currently living with a chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection

What Causes Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C spreads when blood from a person with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through:

• Shared Equipment: Sharing needles, syringes, or any gear used to inject drugs
• Pregnancy and Birth: A mother with the virus can pass it to her baby during childbirth
• Unsafe Tattoos or Piercings: Getting ink or piercings in unregulated places that use unsterilized tools
• Personal Items: Sharing items that might have tiny amounts of blood on them, like razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes
• Workplace Accidents: Accidental “needlesticks” or sharp-object injuries in healthcare jobs
• Sexual Contact: Having sex with an infected person (reported more often among men who have sex with men)
• Medical Procedures: While extremely rare in the US today due to strict screening, the virus can be spread through blood transfusions or organ transplants.

What Does Hepatitis C Feel Like?

Hepatitis C is often called a “silent” virus because it typically causes no symptoms for years.

Most infections do not cause visible illness. If symptoms appear (2–12 weeks after exposure), they often mimic the flu:

• Body: Fever, joint pain, and exhaustion
• Stomach: Nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
• Visible Signs: Yellow skin/eyes (jaundice), dark urine, or pale-colored poop (stool)

Without treatment, the virus often becomes a chronic infection. It can take 20–30 years for any physical illness to emerge. The virus slowly scars the liver, potentially leading to cirrhosis (liver failure) or liver cancer.

Because there are no symptoms, a blood test is the only sure way to know if someone is infected. Medical guidelines recommend that every adult be tested at least once.

Prevention

There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. The best way to prevent HCV infection is to:

• Avoid Blood Contact: Do not share needles, syringes, or any equipment used to inject drugs
• Safe Practices: Use protection during sex and only get tattoos or piercings at licensed, regulated shops
• Do Not Share Personal Items: Avoid sharing razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers that might carry tiny amounts of blood
• Get Tested: Screening is vital because finding and curing the virus prevents it from spreading to others

Screening and Treatment

Hepatitis C screening is a simple 2-step blood test that first checks for antibodies and then confirms if a current, active infection is present.

Every adult should be tested for hepatitis C at least once.

Treatment for hepatitis C viral infection is better than ever.

• Acute (New) Infection: While the body sometimes clears a new infection on its own, doctors now often treat it immediately to stop the spread
• Chronic (Long-term) Infection: Treatment is essential to prevent liver failure and cancer
• The Cure: Most people are fully cured by taking one pill a day for 8 to 12 weeks
• Success Rate: Modern treatments (direct-acting antivirals) cure more than 95% of people with few side effects

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Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D is a serious liver infection that only affects people who already have hepatitis B.

While uncommon in the US, it is the most severe form of viral hepatitis. It often causes faster liver scarring (cirrhosis) and a higher risk of liver failure than other types.

There is no specific vaccine for hepatitis D, but because it requires hepatitis B to exist, the hepatitis B vaccine protects against both.

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Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is a liver infection caused by a virus that is rare in the US but common in developing countries. It is usually found in contaminated water or raw or undercooked meat (especially pork, deer, boar, or shellfish).

There is no hepatitis E vaccine available in the US. To help protect against hepatitis E, drink purified water and avoid raw meats when traveling to areas where the virus is common.

Most people infected with hepatitis E virus recover fully on their own without long-term liver damage.

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Reviewed and Updated March 2026

Sources: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Infectious Diseases Society of America