Hepatitis is inflammation (swelling) of the liver, which in most cases is caused by a virus. The different types of hepatitis are summarised below, with links to more information.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A, caused by the hepatitis A virus, is the most common type of viral hepatitis. It occurs in the UK, but is more common in other countries where sanitation and sewage disposal are poor.
Hepatitis A is usually caught by putting something in your mouth that has been contaminated with the stools (faeces) of someone with hepatitis A.
It is usually an acute (short-term) infection. Although the symptoms can be unpleasant, it is rarely serious. Vaccinations for hepatitis A are available.
For more information, go to Health A-Z: hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B, caused by the hepatitis B virus, is present in body fluids such as blood, saliva, semen and vaginal fluid. It can be passed from person to person through unprotected sex or by sharing needles to inject drugs, for example.
Hepatitis B is not very common in the UK: approximately one in 1,000 people are thought to have the virus.
The vast majority of people who are infected with hepatitis B are able to fight off the virus and fully recover from the infection within a couple of months. Vaccinations for hepatitis B are available.
For more information, see Health A-Z: hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C, caused by the hepatitis C virus, is present in the blood and, to a much lesser extent, the saliva and semen or vaginal fluid of an infected person. It is particularly concentrated in the blood, so it is usually transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. The most common way you can become infected is by sharing contaminated needles to inject drugs.
The course of hepatitis C is unpredictable: some people fight off the infection and experience no ill health; others may develop liver damage, which sometimes progresses to cirrhosis (severe scarring of the liver) and even liver failure. There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.
Treatment with interferon and ribavirin can clear the infection in approximately half of those who are infected, but there are significant side effects.
For more information, see Health A-Z: hepatitis C
Rarer types of hepatitis
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis D, caused by the hepatitis D virus, is only present in people already infected with hepatitis B (it needs the presence of the hepatitis B virus to be able to survive in your body). Infection rates in the UK are low. See British Liver Trust: hepatitis D for more information.
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E, caused by the hepatitis E virus, is very rare in the UK and is generally a mild and acute infection. It is caught by putting something in your mouth that has been contaminated with the faeces of someone with hepatitis E. Person-to-person transmission is rare. See British Liver Trust: hepatitis D for more information.
Autoimmune hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis is a very rare cause of chronic (long-term) hepatitis. Your white blood cells attack your liver, causing chronic inflammation and damage. This can lead to more serious problems, such as liver failure. The reason for this reaction is unknown.
Only one in 100,000 cases of autoimmune hepatitis are diagnosed in the UK every year. About seven in 10 cases are in women, usually between the ages of 15 and 40. However, in older age groups, men tend to be more affected than women.
Symptoms include fatigue (tiredness), pains in your abdomen, joint aches, jaundice (yellow tinge to your skin and whites of your eyes) and cirrhosis. See your GP immediately if you show any of these symptoms so that tests can be carried out for an early diagnosis.
Treatment for autoimmune hepatitis involves medicines that help to suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation. Steroid medication (prednisolone) can gradually reduce your swelling over several weeks, and can then be used to control your symptoms.
For more information, see British Liver Trust: autoimmune hepatitis
