Viral Hepatitis (A, B, C, D, E)

What is Viral Hepatitis (A, B, C, D, E)?

Viral hepatitis is an infection that causes inflammation and damage to your liver. Five different viruses can cause hepatitis, labeled A through E. Each type spreads differently and affects your body in unique ways. Your liver filters toxins, produces proteins, and stores energy for your body to use.

Hepatitis A and E usually cause short-term infections that resolve on their own. Hepatitis B, C, and D can become chronic, meaning they last for months or years. Chronic hepatitis can lead to scarring of the liver, cirrhosis, or liver cancer if left untreated. Early detection through testing helps prevent serious complications.

Some people recover completely from viral hepatitis without treatment. Others need medication to clear the virus or manage long-term infection. The good news is that vaccines exist for hepatitis A and B, and new medications can cure hepatitis C in most cases.

Symptoms

  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes, called jaundice
  • Dark-colored urine or pale-colored stools
  • Extreme tiredness and weakness
  • Nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
  • Pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen
  • Fever and body aches
  • Joint pain
  • Itchy skin

Many people with viral hepatitis have no symptoms at all, especially in the early stages. Some people only discover they have hepatitis when routine blood tests show liver problems. This is why testing is so important for people at risk.

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Causes and risk factors

Each hepatitis virus spreads through different routes. Hepatitis A and E spread through contaminated food or water, often in areas with poor sanitation. Hepatitis B, C, and D spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids. This can happen through sharing needles, unprotected sex, childbirth, or medical procedures with unsterilized equipment.

Risk factors include injecting drugs, having multiple sexual partners, working in healthcare, receiving blood transfusions before 1992, being born to a mother with hepatitis, or traveling to countries where hepatitis is common. People with HIV also have higher rates of hepatitis B and C. Getting tattoos or piercings with non-sterile equipment increases risk as well.

How it's diagnosed

Doctors diagnose viral hepatitis through blood and urine tests that check for liver function and viral markers. Blood tests can detect antibodies your body makes to fight the virus or identify pieces of the virus itself. Urine tests can show elevated bilirubin, a yellow pigment that appears when your liver is damaged and unable to process waste properly.

Rite Aid offers testing that includes urine bilirubin, which can indicate liver injury from viral hepatitis. If results show abnormal liver function, your doctor will order additional tests to identify which type of hepatitis you have. Early testing helps catch infections before they cause permanent liver damage.

Treatment options

  • Rest and adequate hydration to help your body fight the infection
  • Avoiding alcohol, which puts extra stress on your liver
  • Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins
  • Antiviral medications for chronic hepatitis B to suppress the virus
  • Direct-acting antiviral drugs for hepatitis C, which can cure the infection in 8 to 12 weeks
  • Interferon injections in some cases to help the immune system fight the virus
  • Regular monitoring of liver function through blood tests
  • Vaccination against hepatitis A and B to prevent future infections
  • Liver transplant in severe cases of liver failure

Concerned about Viral Hepatitis (A, B, C, D, E)? Get tested at Rite Aid.

  • Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
  • Results in days, not weeks
  • Share results with your doctor
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Frequently asked questions

The main difference is how they spread and how long they last. Hepatitis A and E spread through contaminated food or water and usually resolve within weeks to months. Hepatitis B, C, and D spread through blood or body fluids and can become chronic infections. Hepatitis D only occurs in people who already have hepatitis B.

Hepatitis A and E almost always clear on their own without treatment. About 90% of adults with hepatitis B also clear the virus naturally within 6 months. However, most people with hepatitis C develop chronic infection. Treatment is available for chronic cases to prevent liver damage.

Many people have no symptoms, especially early on. When symptoms occur, they include jaundice, dark urine, fatigue, and abdominal pain. The only way to know for sure is through blood and urine testing. Ask your doctor about hepatitis screening if you have risk factors.

Yes, all forms of viral hepatitis are contagious. Hepatitis A and E spread through food, water, or close contact with infected people. Hepatitis B, C, and D spread through blood, sexual contact, or from mother to baby during birth. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B.

Urine bilirubin testing can indicate liver damage from hepatitis. Blood tests check for specific antibodies or viral particles for each type. Your doctor may also test liver enzymes like ALT and AST. A combination of these tests helps identify which hepatitis virus is present.

Yes, hepatitis C can be cured in more than 95% of cases with direct-acting antiviral medications. Treatment usually lasts 8 to 12 weeks. Once cured, the virus is cleared from your body completely. However, you can get reinfected if exposed again.

Everyone born between 1945 and 1965 should get tested for hepatitis C at least once. People who inject drugs, have HIV, received blood transfusions before 1992, or were born to mothers with hepatitis should also get tested. Healthcare workers and people with abnormal liver tests need screening too.

Vaccines protect against hepatitis A and B and are highly effective. You can reduce risk by avoiding contaminated food and water, not sharing needles, using protection during sex, and ensuring tattoo or piercing equipment is sterile. No vaccine exists yet for hepatitis C, D, or E.

Chronic hepatitis B or C can cause progressive liver damage over years. This may lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Treatment can prevent these complications in most cases. Regular monitoring helps catch problems early before permanent damage occurs.

Talk to your doctor about your specific situation. People at ongoing risk, like those who inject drugs or have multiple sexual partners, may need testing every 6 to 12 months. If you have chronic hepatitis, you will need regular blood tests to monitor liver function and viral levels.