Hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. The most common causes are three viruses named hepatitis A, B, and C. They sound similar, but they spread in different ways, cause different problems, and are handled differently. Some clear on their own, one is now curable, and others can be managed for life. Because hepatitis often causes no symptoms at first, testing is how many people find out they have it. Here is what to know about each type.
Why the Liver Matters
The liver filters your blood, helps digest food, and stores energy. When a virus inflames it, that work is affected. Caught early, most hepatitis is very manageable. Left unchecked for years, ongoing inflammation can scar the liver, which is why knowing your status matters. Learn more about liver warning signs.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A spreads through food or water that has been contaminated, often in places with poor sanitation. It causes a short-term illness with symptoms like fatigue, nausea, belly pain, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. The important thing to know is that hepatitis A does not become a long-term infection. Most people recover fully, and a safe vaccine can prevent it.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B spreads through blood and body fluids, including from mother to baby at birth. In some people it clears on its own, but in others it becomes a long-term infection that can quietly damage the liver over time. There is no cure, but effective medications keep the virus under control and protect the liver. A vaccine prevents hepatitis B, and it is now part of routine childhood immunization.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C spreads mainly through blood, most often through shared needles, and in the past through blood transfusions before testing was available. It usually causes no symptoms for years, which is why many people do not know they have it until a routine test or liver problem shows up. Here is the good news: hepatitis C is now curable in most people with a short course of antiviral pills. There is no vaccine yet, so testing is the key to finding and treating it.
Who Should Get Tested
Current guidance recommends that all adults be tested for hepatitis C at least once, and testing for hepatitis B is advised for many people as well. Testing is especially important if you have risk factors, abnormal liver blood tests, or a family history of hepatitis or liver disease. A simple blood test is all it takes to start.
How We Diagnose and Monitor It
Diagnosis starts with blood tests that identify the specific virus and how active it is. To check the health of the liver itself, I often use a FibroScan, a quick and painless test that measures liver stiffness and scarring without a biopsy. This helps guide treatment and track your liver over time.
The Takeaway
Hepatitis is common, often silent, and very manageable when found. Hepatitis A and B are preventable with vaccines, and hepatitis C is curable. If you have never been tested, or you have risk factors or abnormal liver tests, talk with us about hepatitis testing and care.
Talk to a Gastroenterologist in Mountainside, NJ
If your symptoms keep coming back or you are not sure what is causing them, Dr. Amber Khan can help. We see patients from across Union County and New Jersey.