Hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes inflamed and is commonly caused by a viral infection, though it can be contacted through drugs or alcohol abuse. It is even possible to get hepatitis from some prescription drugs. The common symptoms of hepatitis include fatigue, dark urine, pale stool, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, yellow skin and eyes, and flu-like symptoms. Simple blood work can tell you if you have hepatitis and what type it may be.

Below is a list of the different types of hepatitis:

1. Hepatitis A
This is a highly contagious virus that can last several weeks or months. It infects people when you eat or drink something that is contaminated by feces of someone who has the virus. Most people are able to overcome the virus and make a full recovery. Children are able to have the virus without showing many or any symptoms. There is not a specific treatment for the virus, other than just treating symptoms. This version of the virus has a vaccine that is able to prevent getting the disease and it is recommended that all adults receive the vaccination if traveling, working with food, or are at a general risk of contracting the virus.

2. Hepatitis B
This form of the virus can cause liver scarring, failure, and even liver cancer. This disease can be spread if someone comes in contact with blood, open sores, or body fluids of a person who has the virus. Should you contact this virus as an adult you can suffer from symptoms and then you will become immune. However, should you catch this disease at birth it is unlikely to go away. This is why newborn babies are often vaccinated at the hospital shortly after birth. Many people carry this virus and not exhibit symptoms. You can also go to many months after contracting the disease before symptoms begin to show. Medications can also assist you should you be one of the few who suffer with chronic hepatitis B.

3. Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C spreads through contaminated blood. This can occur through sex, piercings or tattoos, blood transfusions before 1992, being in prison, or were born between 1945 and 1965. It can lead to serious liver damage, liver cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver. Oral medications or injections can cure the disease when taken for two to six months. Many people do not show symptoms and may not realize that they are infected. A blood test can screen for the infection so that treatment can begin. It is possible to also clear the virus from your system, this is called spontaneous viral clearance. It only happens about 25% of the time, but like other viruses your body can fight it. This form of the virus does not have a vaccine because there are many variants of the virus, making it hard to form a safe and effective vaccine. Scientists are working to design one that will work, but it has yet to reach all forms of the virus and be safe for people to use.