Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, is often caused by one of several viruses. Viral hepatitis often begins with flu-like symptoms; fatigue, headache, lost of appetite, nausea, or vomiting, and a low grade fever below 101°F. As symptoms get worse, a yellow color to the skin and the whites of the eyes called jaundice, brown urine and pale stools, and pain or pressure on the right side below the ribs may be present. In some cases, however, people with hepatitis have no symptoms at all.

There’s no specific treatment for acute viral hepatitis, but you can do several things to get well and avoid spreading the disease to others.

The hepatitis A virus is spread through food, water, eating utensils, toys and other objects that have been contaminated by feces, usually from dirty hands. Prevention of hepatitis A is the main reason restaurant employees and child care workers are required to wash their hands after using the washroom or changing babies’ diapers.

After exposure to the virus, symptoms do not usually appear for 2 to 6 weeks. During this time, the exposed person is contagious. Most symptoms usually end within several days or few weeks, but tiredness continues for a few months as the liver continues to heal. Complete recovery usually takes a few months. Hepatitis A usually does not permanently damage the liver. However, serious and sometimes fatal complications can occur.

Hepatitis B is a more serious form of viral hepatitis. About 10 percent of people with hepatitis B will develop chronic hepatitis, a long-term inflammation of the liver that in some cases causes worsening liver damage and even cirrhosis.

Hepatitis B spreads mainly through blood and bloody fluids, sexual contact, and contaminated needles used with intravenous drugs. It can also be spread if needles used for tattooing, acupuncture, or ear piercing is contaminated. In years past, blood transfusions were also at fault. Since 1972, screening of donated blood has almost wiped out the risk of getting hepatitis B from transfusions and blood products.

Hepatitis C, a third form of viral hepatitis, spreads mainly through blood transfusions and through contaminated needles used for IV drugs. It can also be spread by sexual relations and tattooing. Symptoms usually appear 1 to 10 weeks after exposure. Often symptoms are less severe than they are for hepatitis A and B, and jaundice may not develop. Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C can lead to chronic hepatitis.

Until recently, about 2 percent of those who received blood transfusions got hepatitis C. A screening test, however, is now available for detecting hepatitis C in donated blood.