Hepatitis
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Viral infections are the most common cause, but alcohol, medications, toxins, and autoimmune disease can also cause it.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
- ICD-10: B15–B19, K72–K77
- Common types: A, B, C, D, E
- Vaccines available for: Hepatitis A and B
- Curable: Hepatitis C now cure rates >95%
Overview
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. It can be acute (short-term) or chronic (lasting more than 6 months). Causes include viral infections, alcohol use, medications, toxins, fatty liver disease, and autoimmune disease.
Types of Viral Hepatitis
- Hepatitis A — spread by contaminated food/water; usually self-limiting; preventable by vaccine.
- Hepatitis B — spread through blood, sex, mother-to-child; can become chronic; preventable by vaccine.
- Hepatitis C — primarily spread through blood; commonly chronic; highly curable with modern direct-acting antivirals.
- Hepatitis D — only infects people with hepatitis B.
- Hepatitis E — similar transmission and course to hepatitis A; more severe in pregnancy.
Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite, nausea
- Abdominal discomfort, especially upper right
- Dark urine, pale stools
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Joint or muscle aches
- Fever
Many people with chronic hepatitis B or C have no symptoms for years.
Diagnosis
- Liver function blood tests (AST, ALT, bilirubin)
- Hepatitis virus serology and PCR testing
- Liver ultrasound
- Fibrosis assessment (transient elastography or biopsy in selected cases)
Treatment
- Hepatitis A and E — supportive care; usually resolve on their own.
- Hepatitis B — antiviral medications for chronic infection (e.g., entecavir, tenofovir); monitor for liver cancer.
- Hepatitis C — direct-acting antiviral combinations cure most cases in 8–12 weeks.
- Hepatitis D — limited options; pegylated interferon traditionally; newer therapies emerging.
- Alcohol/medication-related — stop the offending agent.
- Autoimmune hepatitis — corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
Prevention
- Vaccinate against hepatitis A and B
- Avoid sharing needles and personal items that may carry blood
- Practice safe sex
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all
- Be cautious about medication and supplement use; many can affect the liver
- Practice food and water safety when traveling
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor for jaundice, persistent fatigue, abdominal pain, or known exposure to hepatitis viruses. Adults born 1945–1965 in the U.S. and anyone with risk factors should be screened for hepatitis C at least once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Modern direct-acting antiviral combinations cure more than 95% of hepatitis C cases in 8–12 weeks with few side effects.
Routine childhood vaccination covers hepatitis A and B. Adults at higher risk (travelers, healthcare workers, people with chronic liver disease, certain occupational or behavioral exposures) should be vaccinated if not already immune.
Current treatments can suppress the virus and prevent complications, but a complete cure is uncommon. Research toward cure is ongoing.
No. Hepatitis can also be caused by alcohol, fatty liver disease, medications and toxins, and autoimmune conditions.
References
- World Health Organization. Hepatitis Fact Sheets.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Viral Hepatitis.