John Elflein
Research expert covering health and health care
Hepatitis in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by alcohol abuse, toxins, some medications, and other infections, but is most commonly caused by viruses. The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E. Transmission and treatment vary depending on the type of hepatitis, but symptoms are similar for all types. Many people with hepatitis do not have any symptoms, but if symptoms do appear, they may include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, dark urine, a loss of appetite, and yellow-colored skin and eyes.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is the milder form of hepatitis, which rarely causes death or lasting damage to the liver. Most people with hepatitis A recover in a few weeks or months. Hepatitis A, like hepatitis E, is transmitted through contaminated food or drinks or through direct contact with an infectious person, but is preventable through immunization. In 2022, there were around 2,265 cases of viral hepatitis A infection in the United States, with Maine and Mississippi reporting the highest rates of hepatitis A infection among U.S. states. At that time, the rate of death for hepatitis A was only 0.03 per 100,000 population for males and .02 for females.Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is transmitted through infected blood and other bodily fluids and is therefore commonly passed through sex, the sharing of needles, or from a mother to her child. A vaccine for hepatitis B does exist and infected adults usually recover from the disease within a few months and are immune to the disease afterwards. However, hepatitis B can cause cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer and can result in death if left untreated. In 2022, there were around 2,126 cases of hepatitis B in the United States, with the state of Florida accounting for 642 such cases, the highest number of hepatitis b infections among all U.S. states. As is the case with hepatitis A, the death rate for hepatitis B is low, but slightly higher among males than among females.Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C, much like hepatitis B, is spread through infected blood. There is no vaccination for hepatitis C and, although in some cases it only lasts for a few weeks, it can also develop into a life-long chronic infection that can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. In 2022, there were around 4,848 cases of acute hepatitis C infections in the United States. However, during that year, viral hepatitis C caused 12,717 deaths. Treatment is always needed for chronic hepatitis C, and although in some cases people recover after being diagnosed with acute hepatitis C, it is highly recommended to receive treatment once diagnosed to prevent developing life long hepatitis C infection.
