Viral hepatitis, including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, are a group of distinct diseases that affect the liver. It can have many causes, including viruses, alcohol, recreational drugs, and prescription medications. Sometimes there are no symptoms of hepatitis in the first weeks after infection, which is the acute phase. But when they happen, the symptoms of types A, B, and C may include fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, belly pain, a mild fever, or yellow skin or eyes (jaundice). Chronic hepatitis may have no symptoms and can last many years and lead to cirrhosis of the liver, which means the liver becomes heavily scarred and less functional.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) causes an acute inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) that gets better on its own. It can be more serious if a person is older. It is easily spread from person to person by close personal contact (including sex or living in the same household) and in food and water. Raw shellfish, fruits, vegetables, and undercooked foods are common culprits in hepatitis A outbreaks. There is no chronic infection. Once you have had HAV infection, you cannot get it again.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be both acute (short-term illness) and chronic (ongoing illness) and is spread through blood or other body fluids in various ways. In the U.S., it’s most often spread through unprotected sex. Hepatitis B is very common in Asia and Africa, and those who were born or lived in these areas should be checked for hepatitis B. Anyone can get hepatitis B, but people who have multiple sex partners or inject illegal drugs have a higher risk.

Chronic hepatitis C can cause very serious complications, including liver failure and liver cancer, and spreads only by blood. Hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccination, but not hepatitis C. People who have injected illegal drugs at any time, even one time, many years ago, could be walking around with chronic hepatitis C. Because there are often no symptoms, many former drug users may not realize they have the infection.

Chronic HBV and chronic HCV can lead to cirrhosis and can sometimes lead to cancer of the liver or liver failure, both of which may require a liver transplant. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com.