{"id":639,"date":"2016-01-21T16:46:51","date_gmt":"2016-01-21T16:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/epidemiology\/?page_id=639"},"modified":"2026-04-23T14:14:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:14:08","slug":"viral-hepatitis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/disease-prevention\/disease-prevention\/viral-hepatitis\/","title":{"rendered":"Viral Hepatitis"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
\n\n
\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n
\n\t

The term \"hepatitis\" means inflammation of the liver. This can be due to a variety of causes. Usually, it refers to a group of viral infections that affect the liver. The liver is one of the most important organs in the body because it filters your blood. The most common types of viral hepatitis in the United States are hepatitis A, B, and C.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHepatitis A\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHepatitis B\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHepatitis C\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPatient Programs\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHep Free VA\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t

    Hepatitis Testing & Treatment<\/h1>\n

    Find testing locations and treatment information<\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tLearn More\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
    <\/div>\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul>\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    1. <\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

      Hepatitis A<\/h3>\n
      \n\t

      Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease. It results from infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV can range in severity from an illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting months. Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person eats food contaminated with a small amount of feces. A person can also get infected by touching objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces of an infected person.\u00a0 Learn more about hepatitis A through the Division of Surveillance and Investigation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      More than 80% of adults with hepatitis A have symptoms. Most children do not have symptoms. A person cannot get infected with hepatitis A twice.<\/p>\n

      Frequent hand washing with soap and water can help prevent the spread of hepatitis A.<\/p>\n

      The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get vaccinated. Vaccination is recommended for all children, for travelers to certain countries<\/a>, and for people at high risk for infection. Anyone can get hepatitis A from food sources. Certain groups of people are at higher risk for infection, such as those who:<\/p>\n