Skip Navigation
Book Now! Find care near you Find care near you Find care near you
wellstar-logo
Wellstar Go Back
Go to MyChart

Questions? We can help!

Call (770) 956-STAR (7827)

Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 4:30 PM

Contact Us
For Patients & Families For the Community For Providers About Us Careers
  • Start Your Care

  • Find a Doctor
  • Find a Location
  • Our Services
  • Virtual Visits
  • Planning

  • Accepted Insurance
  • Hospital Payment Planning
  • Financial Assistance
  • Pricing Information
  • Before Your Visit

  • Sign Up for MyChart
  • Visitation Guidelines
  • While You're Here

  • Support & Entertainment
  • Join an Event
  • After Your Visit

  • Pay Your Bill
  • Get Medical Records
  • Contact us
  • COVID-19 Support

  • COVID-19 Information
  • Vaccines
  • Testing Information
  • Foundation Relief
  • Community Care

  • In the Community
  • Health Highlights
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Latest News
  • Center for Health Equity
  • Wellstar Find Help
  • Events & Programs

  • Events Calendar
  • On-Demand Classes
  • Support Groups
  • Give

  • Wellstar Foundation
  • Donate
  • Ways to Give
  • Thank a Caregiver
  • West Georgia
    Health Foundation
  • Volunteer

  • PeopleCare Advisory Council
  • For Adults
  • Care

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Cures Act
  • Refer a Patient
  • Lab Test Directory
  • Request to Conduct Research
  • Connect

  • Physician Relations
  • Request Imaging Services
  • Wellstar Clinical Partners
  • Wellstar Medical Group
  • Mayo Clinic Care Network
  • Medical Staff Services
  • Provider Recruitment
  • Log In

  • EpicCare Link
  • Lawson Connect
  • MyID Password Reset
  • Citrix Access
  • Leadership

  • Authority Board
  • Board Of Trustees
  • Foundation Board
  • Regional Health Boards
  • Executive Leadership
  • Awards, Recognition & Safety

  • Accreditation & Certifications
  • Awards & Recognition
  • Safety First Program
  • Nursing
  • Careers at Wellstar

  • Apply now
  • Upcoming virtual events
  • Why Wellstar?
  • Nursing Careers

  • Nursing (Direct Care)
  • Nursing Leadership
  • Nursing (Non-bedside)
  • Nursing Support
  • Physician, APP & Clinical Careers

  • Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)
  • Allied Health Professionals
  • Homecare & Hospice
  • Physicians
  • Support Team Careers

  • Administrative & Clerical
  • Coding, Compliance & HIM Systems
  • Facility, Environmental & Nutrition/Food Services
  • Information Technology & Systems
  • For Patients & Families
  • For the Community
  • For Providers
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Search Search Search
  • MyChart MyChart MyChart

Start Your Care

Find a DoctorFind a LocationOur ServicesVirtual Visits

Planning

Accepted InsuranceHospital Payment PlanningFinancial AssistancePricing Information

Before Your Visit

Sign Up for MyChartVisitation Guidelines

While You're Here

Support & EntertainmentJoin an Event

After Your Visit

Pay Your BillGet Medical RecordsContact us

COVID-19 Support

COVID-19 InformationVaccinesTesting InformationFoundation Relief

Community Care

In the CommunityHealth HighlightsCommunity Health Needs AssessmentLatest NewsCenter for Health EquityWellstar Find Help

Events & Programs

Events CalendarOn-Demand ClassesSupport Groups

Give

Wellstar FoundationDonateWays to GiveThank a CaregiverWest Georgia
Health Foundation

Volunteer

PeopleCare Advisory CouncilFor Adults

Care

Transfer a PatientCures ActRefer a PatientLab Test DirectoryRequest to Conduct Research

Connect

Physician RelationsRequest Imaging ServicesWellstar Clinical PartnersWellstar Medical GroupMayo Clinic Care NetworkMedical Staff ServicesProvider Recruitment

Log In

EpicCare LinkLawson ConnectMyID Password ResetCitrix Access
About Wellstar

Our patients are the center of everything we do. We're nationally ranked and locally recognized for our high-quality care, inclusive culture, exceptional doctors and caregivers, and one of the largest and most integrated healthcare systems in Georgia.

About Us

Leadership

Authority BoardBoard Of TrusteesFoundation BoardRegional Health BoardsExecutive Leadership

Awards, Recognition & Safety

Accreditation & CertificationsAwards & RecognitionSafety First ProgramNursing

Careers at Wellstar

Apply nowUpcoming virtual eventsWhy Wellstar?

Nursing Careers

Nursing (Direct Care)Nursing LeadershipNursing (Non-bedside)Nursing Support

Physician, APP & Clinical Careers

Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)Allied Health ProfessionalsHomecare & HospicePhysicians

Support Team Careers

Administrative & ClericalCoding, Compliance & HIM SystemsFacility, Environmental & Nutrition/Food ServicesInformation Technology & Systems
Questions? We can help!

Call (770) 956-STAR (7827)

Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 4:30 PM

Contact Us
Close
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Urgent Care
  • Primary Care
  • Virtual Care
  • Emergency Care
Close Close Close Book Now Menu
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Urgent Care
  • Primary Care
  • Virtual Care
  • Emergency Care

Introducing

Wellstar Virtual Care

Access Wellstar healthcare providers
wherever you are.

Get started

Warning Warning Our "Book Now" feature should not be used for life threatening conditions such as heart attack, severe injury, poisoning, chest pain, or stroke. If you are experiencing such conditions, STOP and CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or visit your nearest Emergency Department.

I Understand

Viral Hepatitis

  • Home
  • Medical Services
  • Health Conditions and Diseases
  • Viral Hepatitis
  • Overview
  • Symptoms
  • Prevention
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment

Viral Hepatitis Overview

Viral hepatitis is a liver infection caused by viral infection, and may be mild or severe. Most often, it is caused by one of three unrelated viruses, called Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, but may be caused by one of several other viruses.

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne infection in the United States.

Hepatitis A is food-borne, self-limiting immunizing, acute not chronic. Hepatitis B, C is blood-borne, acute or chronic, may be asymptomatic, or flu-like illness (fatigue, aches).

Viral Hepatitis Symptoms

Symptoms common to hepatitis A, B, and C include:

  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal tenderness or pain, especially in the area of the liver on your right side inside the lower ribs
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dark urine
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)

Other symptoms of Hepatitis A are low fever, vomiting, and itching. It may have no symptoms at all, and usually last less than two months.

Most children with Hepatitis B and some adults have no symptoms at all. Hepatitis C's symptoms, if any, tend to be mild and flu-like until the liver has been severely damaged.

Causes and Prevention

Hepatitis A is caused by the Hepatitis A virus, usually ingested with a tiny amount of fecal matter from:

  • Someone with Hepatitis A using the toilet, not washing his/her hands carefully, and handling food
  • Drinking contaminated water
  • Eating sewage-contaminated raw shellfish
  • Contact with an infected person
  • Rarely, blood transfusion

Risk factors include being in places with high incidence of Hepatitis A, male homosexual activity, and use of illegal drugs. People with chronic liver disease (including Hepatitis B and C) should be immunized against Hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B is caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), passed in bodily fluids by:

  • Sexual contact
  • Sharing needles and accidental needle sticks
  • Transmission from mother to child during childbirth

Risk factors include polygamous unprotected sex, unprotected sex with someone with HIV, male homosexual activity, having certain sexually transmitted diseases, sharing needles, having dialysis for kidney disease, and being in a place with high incidence of Hepatitis B, like Africa, parts of Asia, and Eastern Europe.

Hepatitis B and C are caused by the hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV), carried by contaminated blood in:

  • Blood transfusions before improved screening in 1992
  • Shared needles
  • Rarely, transmission during childbirth
  • Rarely, sexual contact

Risk factors include exposure to infected blood, taking illegal drugs, being HIV-positive, having a piercing or tattoo in an non-sterile environment, long-term dialysis treatment, and being born to a mother with Hepatitis B or C.

Viral Hepatitis Diagnosis

Hepatitis A is detected with a blood test.

Since Hepatitis B and C often begin damaging the liver years before exhibiting symptoms, healthy people with risk factors are often screened for them. If you have one or more of the risk factors listed above, ask your Wellstar physician about having a hepatitis screening.

The HBV test indicates whether you can pass the virus to others, whether you're immune to HBV (either from having recovered from it or from immunization), and whether you have ever had a Hepatitis B infection. The Hepatitis C test helps determine whether you have Hepatitis C, the quantity of Hepatitis C virus in your blood, and the genetic type of your Hepatitis C virus.

If you have Hepatitis B or C, you may undergo more tests to gauge the severity of your HBV infection and the damage to your liver, possibly including further blood tests and a liver biopsy. Although it is not always clear what caused the infection, it is generally useful to have some idea of when infection likely occurred.

Viral Hepatitis Treatment

No treatment exists for Hepatitis A. The vast majority of patients recover on their own in a month or so with no permanent damage and lifetime immunity. In the meantime, you will have less energy, will have to manage your nausea, and should rest your liver by avoiding alcohol. Discuss any medications you are taking with your Wellstar physician.

If you have been exposed to Hepatitis B, an injection of Hepatitis B immune globulin within 24 hours will help protect you from developing Hepatitis B. If you contract Hepatitis B, your Wellstar physician. will determine whether it is acute or chronic. If it is acute, you may recover on your own. Your Wellstar physician. will recommend another Hepatitis B test to confirm its disappearance. If you have chronic Hepatitis B, your Wellstar physician. may recommend antiviral medications to reduce its ability to harm your liver. In very severe cases, your liver may be damaged enough that you require liver transplantation.

Treatment for Hepatitis C is not always necessary. If your liver abnormalities are not severe, your Wellstar physician. may recommend only follow-up blood tests to monitor your liver function. When Hepatitis C is treated, it is with antiviral medications, usually a combination taken over several weeks. If the first course does not remove the HCV, a second may be recommended. These antivirals may have side effects, such as depression and flu-like symptoms, and may need to be delayed or stopped.

In severe cases of Hepatitis B and C, liver transplant may be an option, but even this is not a cure, as the infection is likely to recur.

More Information

For more information, call our outreach line.

(770) 956-STAR

Back to Top
Branding illustration
Wellstar Logo
More than healthcare. PeopleCare.
Branding illustration
For Job Seekers & Team
Careers Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Onboarding
For Students
Students Portal
Graduate Medical Education
Medical Residency Pharmacy Residency
For Business
Corporate Purchasing
For the Media
Media Room Community Health Needs Assessment
Help
Contact Us Pay Your Bill Policy & Privacy Information Hospital Transparency Information Price Transparency
For Job Seekers & Team
Careers Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Onboarding
For Students
Students Portal

Graduate Medical Education
Medical Residency Pharmacy Residency
For Business
Corporate Purchasing
For the Media
Media Room Community Health Needs Assessment
Help
Contact Us Pay Your Bill Policy & Privacy Information Hospital Transparency Information Price Transparency

Copyright © 2025 Wellstar Health System. All Rights Reserved.

Wellstar does not discriminate on, exclude people or treat them differently on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression or any other type of discrimination prohibited by law.

Cookie Preferences

We use cookies for booking and general analytics. Learn more about our internet privacy policy.