What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a liver disease.

Chronic Hepatitis C: Current Disease Management
You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and stops bleeding. It removes drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy for when you need it.
 

What causes hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus. A virus is a germ that causes sickness. (For example, the flu is caused by a virus.) People can pass viruses to each other.

How could I get hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is spread by close personal contact with someone else who has the infection.

You could also get hepatitis A by:

  • eating food that has been prepared by someone with hepatitis A
  • drinking water that has been contaminated by hepatitis A (in parts of the world with poor hygiene and sanitary conditions) 
       

Who can get hepatitis A?
Anyone can get hepatitis A. But some people are more likely to than others:

  •  Children in day care could get hepatitis A.
  •  people who live with someone who has hepatitis A
  •  children who go to day care
  •  people who work in a day care center
  •  men who have sex with men
  •  people who travel to other countries where hepatitis A is common
     

What are the symptoms?
Hepatitis A can make you feel like you have the flu.

You might:

  • feel tired
  • feel sick to your stomach
  • have a fever
  • not want to eat
  • have stomach pain
  • have diarrhea

Some people have:

  • dark yellow urine
  • light-colored stools
  • yellowish eyes and skin

Some people don't have any symptoms:

If you have symptoms or think you might have hepatitis A, go to a doctor. The doctor will test your blood.

How is hepatitis A treated?
Most people who have hepatitis A get well on their own after a few weeks.
You may need to rest in bed for several days or weeks, and you won't be able to drink alcohol until you are well. The doctor may give you medicine for your symptoms.
    

How can I protect myself?
You can get the hepatitis A vaccine. A vaccine is a drug that you take when you are healthy that keeps you from getting sick. Vaccines teach your body to attack certain viruses, like the hepatitis A virus. The hepatitis A vaccine is given through a shot. Children can get the vaccine after they turn 2 years old. Children aged 2 to 18 will need three shots. The shots are spread out over a year. Adults get two or three shots over 6 to 12 months. You need all of the shots to be protected. If you are traveling to other countries, make sure you get all the shots before you go. If you miss a shot, call your doctor or clinic right away to set up a new appointment.

You can protect yourself and others from hepatitis A in these ways, too:

  • Always wash your hands after using the toilet and before fixing food or eating.
  • Wear gloves if you have to touch other people's stool. Wash your hands afterwards.
  • Drink bottled water when you are in another country. (And don't use ice cubes or wash fruits and vegetables in tap water).

 

What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a liver disease that causes the liver swell and stops it from working right. You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and stops bleeding. It removes drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy for when you need it.

What causes hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus. A virus is a germ that causes sickness. (For example, the flu is caused by a virus.) People can pass viruses to each other. The virus that causes hepatitis B is called the hepatitis B virus.

How could I get hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B spreads by contact. You could get hepatitis B by: 

  • having sex with an infected person without using a condom
  • sharing drug needles
  • having a tattoo or body piercing done with dirty tools that were used on someone else
  • getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it (health care workers can get hepatitis B this way)
  • living with someone who has hepatitis B
  • sharing a toothbrush or razor with an infected person
  • traveling to countries where hepatitis B is common

An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth or through her breast milk.

You can NOT get hepatitis B by:

  • shaking hands with an infected person
  • hugging an infected person
  • sitting next to an infected person

What are the symptoms?
Hepatitis B can make you feel like you have the flu.
 
You might:

  • feel tired
  • feel sick to your stomach
  • have a fever
  • not want to eat
  • have stomach pain
  • have diarrhea

Some people have:

  • dark yellow urine
  • light-colored stools
  • yellowish eyes and skin

Some people don't have any symptoms.
If you have symptoms or think you might have hepatitis B, go to a doctor.

What are the tests for hepatitis B?
To check for hepatitis B, the doctor will test your blood. These tests show if you have hepatitis B and how serious it is.

The doctor may also do a liver biopsy. A biopsy is a simple test. The doctor removes a tiny piece of your liver through a needle. The doctor checks the piece of liver for signs of hepatitis B and liver damage.

How is hepatitis B treated?
Treatment for hepatitis B may involve:

  • A drug called interferon (in-ter-FEAR-on). It is given through shots. Most people are treated for 4 months.
  • A drug called lamivudine (la-MIV-you-deen). You take it by mouth once a day. Treatment is usually for one year.
  • A drug called adefovir dipivoxil (uh-DEH-foh-veer dih-pih-VOX-ill). You take it by mouth once a day. Treatment is usually for one year.

Over time, hepatitis B may cause your liver to stop working. If that happens, you will need a new liver. The surgery is called a liver transplant. It involves taking out the old, damaged liver and putting in a new, healthy one from a donor. 
 

How can I protect myself?
You can get the hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is given through three shots. All babies should get the vaccine. Infants get the first shot within 12 hours after birth. They get the second shot at age 1 to 2 months and the third shot between ages 6 and 18 months.

Older children and adults can get the vaccine, too. They get three shots over 6 months. Children who have not had the vaccine should get it.

You need all of the shots to be protected. If you are traveling to other countries, make sure you get all the shots before you go. If you miss a shot, call your doctor or clinic right away to set up a new appointment.

You can also protect yourself and others from hepatitis B if you:

  • use a condom when you have sex
  • don't share drug needles with anyone
  • wear gloves if you have to touch anyone's blood
  • don't use an infected person's toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it
  • make sure any tattooing or body piercing is done with clean tools

 

What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a liver disease. You need a healthy liver. The liver does many things to keep you alive. The liver fights infections and stops bleeding. It removes drugs and other poisons from your blood. The liver also stores energy for when you need it.

What causes hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is caused by a virus. A virus is a germ that causes sickness. (For example, the flu is caused by a virus.) People can pass viruses to each other. The virus that causes hepatitis C is called the hepatitis C virus.

How could I get hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is spread by contact with an infected person's blood.
You could get hepatitis C by:  

  • sharing drug needles
  • getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it (hospital workers can get hepatitis C this way)
  • having sex with an infected person, especially if you or your partner has other sexually transmitted diseases
  • being born to a mother with hepatitis C

In rare cases, you could get hepatitis C by:

  • getting a tattoo or body piercing with unsterilized, dirty tools

You can NOT get hepatitis C by:

  • shaking hands with an infected person
  • hugging an infected person
  • kissing an infected person
  • sitting next to an infected person

Could I get hepatitis C from a blood transfusion?
If you had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992, you might have hepatitis C. Before 1992, doctors could not check blood for hepatitis C, and some people received infected blood. If you had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992, ask a doctor to test you for hepatitis C.

What are the symptoms?
Many people with hepatitis C don't have symptoms. However, some people with hepatitis C feel like they have the flu.

 
So, you might:

  • feel tired
  • feel sick to your stomach
  • have a fever
  • not want to eat
  • have stomach pain
  • have diarrhea

Some people have:

  • dark yellow urine
  • light-colored stools
  • yellowish eyes and skin

If you have symptoms or think you might have hepatitis C, go to a doctor.

What are the tests for hepatitis C?
To check for hepatitis C, the doctor will test your blood. These tests show if you have hepatitis C and how serious it is.

The doctor may also do a liver biopsy.
A biopsy is a simple test. The doctor removes a tiny piece of your liver through a needle. The doctor checks the piece of liver for signs of hepatitis C and liver damage.

How is hepatitis C treated?
Hepatitis C is treated through shots of medicine. Hepatitis C is treated with a drug called peginterferon, usually in combination with the drug ribavirin.You may need surgery if you have hepatitis C for many years. Over time, hepatitis C can cause your liver to stop working. If that happens, you will need a new liver. The surgery is called a liver transplant. It involves taking out the old, damaged liver and putting in a new, healthy one from a donor.

How can I protect myself?
You can protect yourself and others from hepatitis C:

  • If you inject drugs, use your own needles.
  • Don't share drug needles with anyone.
  • Wear gloves if you have to touch anyone's blood.
  • If you have several sex partners, use a condom during sex.
  • Don't use an infected person's toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it.
  • If you get a tattoo or body piercing, make sure it is done with clean tools.
  • If you have hepatitis C, don't give your blood or plasma. The person who receives it could become infected with the virus.