
Viral Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis is caused by a virus that affect the liver. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
Transmission varies among the different types of viral hepatitis; however, symptoms are the same for all three types of hepatitis (A, B, and C). Not everyone will have symptoms when they are first infected, but symptoms of acute (newly acquired) hepatitis include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Clay-colored stools
- Joint or muscle pain
- Dark urine
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections can lead to chronic hepatitis infections, in which case individuals will remain infected. Chronic hepatitis can lead to liver disease and liver cancer. Most people with hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections remain asymptomatic (no symptoms) until the infection progresses and cause complications of the liver.
For more information, please click on the links below:
Additional Resources:
Viral Hepatitis Resource Center - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Georgia Viral Hepatitis Epidemiologic Profile (2017)
Georgia Viral Hepatitis Resource Directory (2020)
Reporting Viral Hepatitis Cases to Public Health
Contact Information:
Georgia Department of Public Health
Epidemiology Program - Viral Hepatitis
2 Peachtree Street NW, 14th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Acute Disease Epidemiology Section: (404) 657-2588
Viral Hepatitis Fax: (404) 657-2608
Page last updated February 13, 2020