But viral versions of hepatitis are the most common. Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus. You usually contract it by coming into contact with water, ice, or food, like unwashed fruit and vegetables or shellfish, that is contaminated with hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is a short-term infection, and your liver heals in about two months. Symptoms of hepatitis A develop two to six weeks following your contact with the virus.
You may experience fatigue, fever, nausea and vomiting, dark urine and clay-colored stool, and yellowing of your skin or eyes. You can contract hepatitis B through bodily fluids from a person who has the virus.
Bodily fluids include blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. Sexual contact is a major way the virus is transmitted. Sharing razors or needles is another common way the virus is spread.
Hepatitis B is a chronic condition. Pregnant women can pass hepatitis B to their unborn child. You can prevent hepatitis B with a vaccine. Hepatitis B causes many of the same symptoms as hepatitis A, and they show up six weeks to six months after contact with the virus, with most people showing symptoms after three months.
While some people experience only mild symptoms and recover from hepatitis B, others experience long-term infection and liver complications. Chronic hepatitis B or C can lead to more severe health problems. Because the virus affects the liver, people with chronic hepatitis B or C are at risk of:. When your liver stops functioning normally, liver failure can occur. Complications of liver failure include:. People with chronic hepatitis B and C should avoid alcohol as it can accelerate liver disease and failure.
Certain supplements and medications can also affect liver function. If you have chronic hepatitis B or C, check with your doctor before taking any new medications.
Hepatitis A is inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. This highly contagious form of hepatitis can be spread through contaminated…. Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver. Get the facts on possible risk factors, complications, and treatment options.
Coronary artery disease reduces blood flow to your heart. Learn how to recognize coronary artery disease symptoms, how to manage the symptoms, and…. Learn how it's caused and treated, and find tips for preventing it. Hepatitis targets the liver, but its types differ in important ways.
Understand how hepatitis B and C differ. The latest hep C treatments are easier to take, cause fewer side effects, work faster, and are more effective. Learn more about your treatment options…. Insurance companies may deny coverage for hepatitis C treatment for several reasons. Here's what to do if it happens to you and you can't pay the…. Treatments for hepatitis C can be expensive, particularly if you don't have health insurance.
Learn why the costs can be so high, and your options for…. When you are in pain and fatigued, finding foods that are both nourishing and easy to prepare is particularly essential. Cologuard is a noninvasive colon cancer screening test done in the privacy of your home. Learn more here. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. However, viral infections are the most common cause of hepatitis.
What is hepatitis? Causes of hepatitis. Common symptoms of hepatitis. How hepatitis is diagnosed. How hepatitis is treated. Tips to prevent hepatitis. Complications of hepatitis. Alcoholic Hepatitis. Hepatitis B. Hepatitis C vs. Read this next. Hepatitis A. Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections.
When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A , hepatitis B , and hepatitis C.
Hepatitis B can range from a mild illness, lasting a few weeks, to a serious, life-long chronic condition. Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness, lasting a few weeks, to a serious, life-long chronic infection. Most people who get infected with the hepatitis C virus develop chronic hepatitis C. Hepatitis A is spread when a person ingests fecal matter—even in microscopic amounts—from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by feces or stool from an infected person.
Hepatitis B is primarily spread when blood, semen, or certain other body fluids- even in microscopic amounts — from a person infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. The hepatitis B virus can also be transmitted from:. Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus — even in microscopic amounts — enters the body of someone who is not infected.
The hepatitis C virus can also be transmitted from:. Acute: No medication available; best addressed through supportive care Chronic: Regular monitoring for signs of liver disease progression; some patients are treated with antiviral drugs.
Acute: There is not a recommended treatment for acute hepatitis C. People should be considered for treatment if their infection becomes chronic.
Chronic: There are several medications available to treat chronic hepatitis C. Many people with hepatitis do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur with an acute infection, they can appear anytime from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure.
Symptoms of chronic viral hepatitis can take decades to develop. Symptoms of hepatitis can include: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice.
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