What is Viral Hepatitis?
Viral Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. Several different viruses, named Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses, cause Viral Hepatitis.
All of these viruses cause acute, or short-term, Viral Hepatitis. The Hepatitis B, C, and D viruses can also cause chronic hepatitis, in which the infection is prolonged, sometimes lifelong. Chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
Symptoms include:
- Jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and eye
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Low grade fever
- Headache
However, some people do not have any symptoms.
If you have questions, please contact Adult Viral Hepatitis Staff.
Hepatitis A and B Vaccine
Learn about hepatitis A and B diseases and vaccines that can prevent them, how they spread, and symptoms.
Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention
The department works closely with local health, laboratories, prenatal care providers, birthing hospitals and more to prevent perinatal hepatitis B. Learn about our perinatal hepatitis B prevention program.
Links to hepatitis information
- Resources in many languages Hep B Hub
- Learn about managing your medications at the American Liver Foundation.
- Get disease information, statistics, research and more at the CDC Viral Hepatitis website.
- Support for new diagnosis, treatment information, fact sheets and more are at Hepatitis B Advocate.
- For education, support and advocacy on hepatitis issues, visit Hepatitis Education Project.
- Detailed hepatitis B information is on the CDC webpage: Know Hepatitis B
- The Hepatitis and Liver Clinic at Harborview specializes in the evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B and C infections and other chronic liver diseases.