Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a group of viruses. There are five major types of viral hepatitis: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E.
Hepatitis B virus is passed on through contact with infected body fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions, and blood. It is most often transmitted through sexual contact but can also be contracted when injecting drug users share needles and other injecting equipment. Mothers with hepatitis B can also pass the virus to their infants during birth.
Hepatitis B is not spread through food, water, sharing utensils, hugging, kissing, or by casual contact. However, certain items like razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, and needles could pose a risk if they are contaminated with blood and should not be shared. The hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body for at least 7 days and is still infectious during that time. Any surfaces contaminated with blood should be cleaned with a solution of 1 part household bleach and 10 parts water.
Many people with hepatitis B don’t have noticeable symptoms when they first get the virus. When someone does get symptoms, they might include:
In some people, hepatitis B will only cause a short-term (acute) infection causing mild illness for a few weeks or months. People with an acute infection often have few or no symptoms and will clear the virus on their own without treatment. Once a person has cleared the infection, they can’t be infected with hepatitis B again.
Not everyone will clear the virus, though, and will develop a serious long-lasting (chronic) infection lasting a lifetime. Chronic hepatitis B infection can cause complications such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and even lead to liver cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends one-time hepatitis B testing of all adults (18 years and older) and all pregnant women during every pregnancy.
CDC also recommends testing for other groups that may be exposed to hepatitis B. This includes:
If you have an acute hepatitis B virus infection, treatment may not be necessary. Most often the infection will go away on its own with supportive care (rest, good nutrition, fluids, etc.) If the infection is more severe, you may need antiviral medication or even a hospital stay while you recover.
If you have a chronic infection, treatment can help but will not cure the infection. Some people may need to take medication for the rest of their lives, while others may not need medication. You will need to talk with a health care provider to learn what’s recommended for you.
The good news is that hepatitis B is preventable through vaccination. A person can choose to be vaccinated and no longer have to worry about being infected with hepatitis B.
Other ways to prevent hepatitis B infection include using condoms and barrier methods during oral, anal and vaginal sex.
Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted by direct contact with blood. The most common way currently is through sharing of needles or other injecting equipment during intravenous drug use that have not been properly cleaned between users.
While not common, hepatitis C can be spread through vaginal or anal sex. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), having an STI or HIV, having sex with multiple partners, or rough sex appears to increase a person’s risk for hepatitis C. But again, sexual transmission of hepatitis C is not common.
Most people with hepatitis C don’t have noticeable symptoms when they first get the virus. Around 1 in 5 people may get flu-like symptoms within the first six months. This is easily mistaken for flu or another illness
Some people’s bodies clear the hepatitis C virus in a few weeks or months, but most people will have it for longer. This is called chronic hepatitis C.
It’s possible to have chronic hepatitis C for many years with no symptoms, but you can still pass it on to others. Symptoms may come and go and can include:
Acute hepatitis C virus infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first six months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis C virus. Some people manage to clear the virus naturally from their body, but for most people, acute infection becomes a long term “chronic” infection. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection occurs when the hepatitis C virus remains in a person’s body for longer than six months.
Although many cases of hepatitis are not a serious threat to health, the disease can sometimes become chronic (long-lasting) and may lead to liver failure and death. If it’s not treated, hepatitis C can cause life-threatening liver damage.
Most people with chronic hepatitis C do not have any symptoms up until the point where the liver is significantly damaged. Thus, chronic hepatitis C is often first detected during routine blood tests to measure liver function.
In many cases, though, viral hepatitis is a self-resolving illness—meaning it goes away on its own.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends one-time hepatitis C testing of all adults (18 years and older) and all pregnant women during every pregnancy.
Hepatitis C can be cured in almost all cases with just 8-12 weeks of well-tolerated oral-only treatment with antiviral medication. Follow up with a health care provider about treatment.
You can lower your chance of getting hepatitis C by:
