There are six main types of viral hepatitis: A, B, C, D, E, and G. The three main types in the United States are hepatitis A, B, and C. Vaccines can prevent some viral hepatitis infections.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It usually results from a viral infection, but drugs, toxins, and certain diseases, including autoimmune diseases, may also cause the condition.
Scientists have only
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The following table shows the main types of hepatitis:
Type | Transmission | |
A (HAV) | consuming food or drink contaminated with the feces of someone with the infection | nausea, fatigue, dark urine, vomiting, fever, jaundice, and anorexia |
B (HBV) | making contact with the body fluids of a person with the infection — usually from the woman to the fetus at birth, but occasionally from using contaminated needles or having sex without a condom | unease, fatigue, anorexia, and mild illness |
C (HCV) | making contact with blood containing the virus — | |
D (HDV) | same as HBV | unease, fatigue, anorexia, and mild illness |
E (HEV) | usually through consuming undercooked meat or food or drink contaminated with the feces of someone with the infection, but occasionally from a pregnant woman to a fetus | mild illness |
G (HGV) | through blood containing the virus | mild infection, but most people have no symptoms |
The symptoms of hepatitis may be mild, but the condition can lead to severe complications. For example, each type of hepatitis can
Hepatitis may be
Vaccines and vaccine schedules depend on the type of hepatitis.
Hepatitis A
The
A doctor will administer the vaccine over two doses, with 6 months between them.
Hepatitis B
The
An unvaccinated child or adolescent below the age of 19 should also have the shot. Some adults who are not vaccinated should also receive the vaccine — for example, those traveling to areas where hepatitis B is common.
A doctor may administer the hepatitis B vaccine in two, three, or four doses.
Hepatitis C
There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C, which causes
Hepatitis D
The HBV vaccine
Hepatitis E
The
Hepatitis G
There is currently
Noninfectious types of hepatitis include autoimmune and alcoholic hepatitis.
An autoimmune disease causes hepatitis when the immune system attacks the liver. Autoimmune hepatitis is
The most common symptoms are:
However, some people may not experience any symptoms.
Alcoholic hepatitis begins when the liver is unable to cope with the level of toxins due to a high alcohol intake.
Medications are available to treat hepatitis.
A person with acute hepatitis C may undergo
Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN), a variation of standard interferon therapy, can treat:
A person may use the antiviral medication
There are various ways of contracting hepatitis, depending on the type. Contracting a viral form of hepatitis depends on the mode of transmission, which the table above shows.
A person may sometimes contract hepatitis nonvirally. In autoimmune hepatitis, the immune system attacks the liver cells. Ingesting substances that contain toxins, such as alcohol, can also induce some types of hepatitis.
A doctor may use a blood test to diagnose viral hepatitis.
A healthcare professional will check a person’s blood for:
- HAV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgM) antibodies to diagnose HAV
- the surface antigen HBsAg to diagnose HBV
- anti-HCV antibodies to diagnose HCV
- high immunoglobulin G (IgG) and anti-HDV immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels to diagnose HDV
- virus–specific IgM antibodies to identify HEV
To
- symptoms
- medical history
- blood and imaging tests
- a liver biopsy
- a physical examination
They may suggest additional tests to confirm the condition.
The main complications of hepatitis affect the liver, but the disease can also lead to:
- leg, ankle, and foot swelling
- jaundice
- blood in the feces and vomit
- confusion
Problems for the liver
People should see a doctor if they have not had the vaccine and believe that they may have had exposure to hepatitis.
A pregnant woman should undergo screening for HBV to enable healthcare providers to take preventive measures to protect the fetus, if necessary.
The outlook for people with hepatitis depends on the type, the individual, and the treatment that they receive.
Some people make a full recovery either with or without treatment. However, for others, hepatitis will be a lifelong condition.
If a person with alcoholic hepatitis stops consuming alcohol for
If hepatitis does not respond to treatment, the person may require a liver transplant.
Preventive measures are the
A person can
When traveling to an area where hepatitis is common, people should avoid raw seafood and shellfish and only consume fruits or vegetables that are cooked or peeled.
A person with an autoimmune disease should undergo testing for autoimmune hepatitis early on so that they can begin a long-term treatment plan if necessary.
Abstaining from alcohol can prevent alcoholic hepatitis.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. There are different types of hepatitis, including viral and noninfectious forms.
Hepatitis may be acute, lasting fewer than 6 months, or chronic, if it lasts longer.
The symptoms of hepatitis are often mild, but complications may be severe if the person does not receive treatment.
Cases of hepatitis in the U.S. have declined