Hepatitis Information

What is Viral Hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection. Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E are unrelated viruses; each of them can cause acute, or short-term, viral hepatitis. Hepatitis B, C, and D can also cause chronic hepatitis, in which the infection is prolonged and sometimes lifelong. Chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

Symptoms of acute viral hepatitis include:

  • Jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and eye, dark urine, and pale stool
  • Fatigue
  • Abdominal pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Low grade fever
  • Headache

However, some people do not have any acute symptoms and do not know they have been infected.  Even without symptoms, they can still spread the virus.  

Symptoms of chronic viral hepatitis may occur after decades. People who develop liver cirrhosis, failure, or cancer will often show symptoms like jaundice, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and fatigue.  

How does a person get hepatitis B or C?

Hepatitis B is spread through blood and sexual fluids, including at birth. Hepatitis C is spread mainly through blood. Risks include sharing needles or injection equipment and healthcare procedures without infection prevention measures.

Who gets hepatitis B or C?

People most likely to get hepatitis B or C are: 

  • People who use injection drugs
  • People who received a blood transfusion or blood products before 1987
  • People who live with or have sex with an infected person 
  • Immigrants and children of immigrants from areas with high rates of Hepatitis B 
  • Infants born to an infected mother
  • Hemodialysis patients
  • Men who have sex with men 
  • People who have multiple sex partners 
  • Health care workers 
  • International travelers  

Hepatitis D can infect only a person with hepatitis B infection. Almost all cases of hepatitis D are in people who use injection drugs. 

How can I prevent hepatitis B, C, and D?

The hepatitis B vaccine offers the best protection against hepatitis B and D. 

  • All infants and unvaccinated children, adolescents, and adults 19 through 59 years of age should be vaccinated. 
  • Adults aged 60 years and older with risk factors for hepatitis B should also be vaccinated for hepatitis B. Adults aged 60 years and older without known risk factors for hepatitis B may receive hepatitis B vaccination. 
  • For people who have not been vaccinated, reducing exposure to the virus can help prevent Hepatitis B. 

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The best way to avoid contracting hepatitis C is to reduce exposure to the virus.

Reducing exposure  to hepatitis B, C, and D means never sharing needles or drug equipment; using condoms or barriers, which may lower the risk of transmission; not sharing any blood testing devices or medical equipment touching blood; and not sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers with infected persons.

To prevent perinatal infections of hepatitis B, DOH  works closely with local health, laboratories, birthing hospitals and healthcare providers. Learn about our perinatal hepatitis B prevention program (In English).

Learn about hepatitis A and B diseases and vaccines that can prevent them, how they spread, and symptoms (In English).

What is the treatment for hepatitis B, C, or D?

Antiviral treatments can cure hepatitis C infection in as little as 8 weeks. While there is no cure for hepatitis B, antivirals can reduce the amount of hepatitis B virus in the body and slow the damage to the liver. See a healthcare provider to discuss options for chronic hepatitis management.

A person with any chronic viral hepatitis should take steps to protect their liver from more damage. Limit alcohol use and check with a healthcare provider about any medications taken, both prescription and non-prescription.  

More Information

Contact

If you have questions about hepatitis B, C, or D, please contact viral hepatitis staff (In English).