What Are the 5 Types of Viral Hepatitis and How Do They Differ From One Another?

Hepatitis is a common problem that causes liver damage. There are many types of hepatitis and it can be hard to know the difference between them all. This article will cover hepatitis caused by the hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses.

What is hepatitis? 

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. When the liver is inflamed, it isn’t able to play its part in keeping you healthy. 

The liver is a powerhouse of an organ. Some of the liver’s many functions include:

• Filtering wastes from the blood

• Regulating iron and glucose stores

• Blood clotting

• Fighting infections

You can see how an inflamed liver would have very serious health consequences. 

What are the 5 types of viral hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation caused by a viral infection. Viral infections are the most common cause of hepatitis in the United States. The five main hepatitis viruses are hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses. But viral hepatitis can also be caused by cytomegalovirus (CVM), Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV), and yellow fever. 

What are the symptoms of viral hepatitis?

Most people with viral hepatitis have no symptoms. But hepatitis can cause:

• Fatigue (feeling tired)

• Loss of appetite

• Fever

• Yellow color of the eyes and skin

• Stomach pain

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

Hepatitis A transmission, testing, treatment, and prevention

How common is it? Over a million cases are reported each year all over the world. Outbreaks are common in countries with less developed systems of sanitation. Hepatitis A outbreaks are less common in the United States, but thousands of cases still happen each year.

How do you get it? Hepatitis A virus (HAV) spreads from person to person through contact with the blood and stool. HAV is very contagious so even ingesting tiny, microscopic amounts of the virus can cause someone to become sick. The most common way to get hepatitis A is by eating food or drinking water contaminated with HAV. Another way people often get hepatitis A is from caring for people infected with HAV. 

Who should be tested? HAV is diagnosed with a blood test. Only people exposed to HAV need testing. Health departments will test anyone exposed to HAV during an outbreak.

What is the treatment? Most people with hepatitis A usually get better on their own without treatment. In rare cases, hepatitis A infection can be very serious and a person may require treatment to support their body’s recovery in the hospital. There is no specific treatment targeted at the HAV. 

How do you prevent it? The best way to prevent hepatitis A is by getting vaccinated. International travel is the most common way people in the United States get hepatitis A. People traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common should make sure food is washed and completely cooked. Travelers should also make sure to use clean water sources. 

Is there a vaccine? There is a vaccine for hepatitis A. The vaccine is a two-dose series. It was added to the regular childhood vaccination schedule in the late 1990s. If you did not receive the vaccine as a child, check with your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated as an adult. Anyone traveling to areas with high rates of hepatitis A should get the vaccine. 

Hepatitis B transmission, testing, treatment, and prevention

How common is it? Hepatitis B is very common. Over 800,000 people have hepatitis B in the United States. Worldwide, 257 million people have hepatitis B. 

How do you get it? The hepatitis B virus (HBV) spreads from person to person through contact with blood, semen, and other bodily fluids. Sexual contact is a common way people get hepatitis B. Needle-sharing and exposure to blood are other ways you can get exposed. Healthcare workers can get hepatitis B from unintentional needle sticks. A person with hepatitis B can also pass the virus to an unborn child during pregnancy.

Many people who get infected with HBV clear the infection on their own. Some people can develop chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis B infection causes liver failure and cancer. Unfortunately, 15% to 25% of people with chronic hepatitis B infection will die early from liver failure or liver cancer. Children are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B than adults.

Who should be tested? HBV is diagnosed with a blood test.

Healthcare providers recommend routine testing for certain people including:

• Anyone born in countries with high rates of hepatitis B

• Household contacts or sexual partners of people with hepatitis B

• Anyone with immunosuppression (including HIV infection)

• Anyone who is a blood or tissue donor

• Newborns whose birthing parent has hepatitis B

• Anyone who is pregnant

What is the treatment? There is no cure for hepatitis B. There are medications that help slow liver damage. People with hepatitis B should avoid alcohol and medications that cause liver damage.

How do you prevent it? The best way to lower your risk of getting hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated. Also use barrier protection, like condoms, during sex. Never share needles. If you work with blood or blood products, always wear gloves and use appropriate cleaning practices. 

Is there a vaccine? There is a vaccine for hepatitis B. It is a three-dose series. It is part of the childhood immunization schedule. Children should get the vaccine because they are at high risk for chronic infection. If you don’t know if you got the vaccine as a child, your healthcare provider can order a blood test to see if you are immune.

Hepatitis C transmission, testing, treatment, and prevention

How common is it? Hepatitis C is the most common type of hepatitis in the United States. Over 2 million people have hepatitis C. 

How do you get it? The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is passed to someone when they come in contact with blood that contains the virus. Most people get hepatitis C from:

• Needle-sharing

• Sharing items that could contain blood (like razors)

• Unregulated tattooing 

• Accidental needle sticks

• Sexual contact (though less likely)

Newborns can also get hepatitis C from a birthing parent with hepatitis C. 

Unlike the hepatitis B virus, more than half of people with the hepatitis C virus develop chronic infection. Hepatitis C causes liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Hepatitis C is a common reason for liver transplants. 

Who should be tested? All adults should have hepatitis C testing at least once in their lifetime.

People who use injected drugs may need more frequent screening. People who are pregnant get screened for hepatitis C as part of their routine prenatal care. 

A blood test will show if a person has hepatitis C.

What is the treatment? Hepatitis C is treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). DAAs are pills. A person with hepatitis C takes DAAs for 8 to 12 weeks. Over 90% of people with HCV are cured. Most people do not need to see a specialist to get hepatitis C treatment. You should not drink alcohol or use any medications or supplements that can harm the liver while taking DAAs.

How do you prevent it? You can lower your risk of getting hepatitis C by:

• Wearing gloves when handling blood or blood products 

• Never sharing needles or injectable equipment 

• Avoiding unregulated tattoos

• Using barrier protection, like condoms, during sex

Is there a vaccine? There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The virus changes rapidly, which makes developing a vaccine difficult. But scientists are still trying to figure out a way to develop a vaccine that works.

Hepatitis D transmission, testing, treatment, and prevention

How common is it? Hepatitis D is so uncommon in the United States that we don’t know how many people have it. Worldwide, about 5% of people with hepatitis B also have hepatitis D. 

How do you get it? The hepatitis D virus (HDV) spreads through blood and bodily fluids like the hepatitis B virus. Only people who already have hepatitis B can get hepatitis D. People can get hepatitis B and D at the same time (called co-infection). Or they can get hepatitis D after first getting hepatitis B (called superinfection).

Hepatitis D makes hepatitis B worse. People with hepatitis B and D get cirrhosis, liver failure, and cancer earlier than if they only had hepatitis B. 

Who should be tested? Only people with hepatitis B need to be tested for hepatitis D. 

What is the treatment? The treatment for hepatitis D is the same as the treatment for hepatitis B.

Is there a vaccine? There is no vaccine for hepatitis D. But if you are immune to hepatitis B then you can’t get hepatitis D. Get the hepatitis B vaccine to protect yourself against hepatitis D.

Hepatitis E transmission, testing, treatment, and prevention

How common is it? There are millions of cases of hepatitis E worldwide each year. But in the United States, hepatitis E is very rare.

How do you get it? The hepatitis E virus (HEV) spreads through infected stool. HEV is uncommon in the United States because of our sanitation. But, people have gotten sick in the United States after eating:

• Raw or undercooked pork

• Shellfish 

• Undercooked wild game

Who should be tested? People who have been in areas with high rates of hepatitis E and have signs of hepatitis should get testing. 

What is the treatment? There is no specific treatment for hepatitis E. Most of the time, people get better on their own. An important exception to this is people who are pregnant. Hepatitis E infection during pregnancy can be very serious and even fatal. 

How do you prevent it? If you travel to places with a lot of hepatitis E, make sure all food is completely cooked and drink purified water.

Is there a vaccine? There is no vaccine for hepatitis E in the United States. A vaccine for hepatitis E is available in China where hepatitis E is more common. 

Are there other types of hepatitis? 

Other things besides viruses can cause hepatitis. Alcohol is a common cause of hepatitis. Autoimmune diseases, toxins, medications, and obesity can also cause hepatitis.