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The word hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, but there is not just one type. What changes is the cause, and with it the way it spreads (when it does), the risk of becoming chronic, prevention and treatment. Telling the types apart is what lets you and your doctor know what to expect and what to do.

On this page you will find an orderly summary of the types of hepatitis, with a comparison table to see them at a glance. If you are not yet sure what hepatitis is in general, it is best to start with what is hepatitis?; here we focus on the differences between one type and another.

Viral hepatitis

These are caused by viruses that target the liver. They are identified by the letters A, B, C, D and E. They share a name, but behave very differently.

  • Hepatitis A: spreads by the fecal-oral route, almost always through contaminated water or food. It causes an acute hepatitis that clears on its own and does not become chronic. There is a very effective vaccine.
  • Hepatitis B: transmitted through blood, sexual contact and from mother to child at birth. It can become chronic, especially when acquired in the first years of life, and over the years lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. It has a vaccine and antiviral treatment that controls the virus.
  • Hepatitis C: spread mainly through blood. In most people it becomes chronic and is a common cause of cirrhosis. It has no vaccine, but it can be cured in more than 95% of cases with direct-acting antivirals over 8 to 12 weeks.
  • Hepatitis D: only affects those who already have hepatitis B, because the D virus needs B to multiply. It is the most aggressive form of chronic viral hepatitis. The same hepatitis B vaccine prevents it.
  • Hepatitis E: like A, it spreads by the fecal-oral route and is usually acute and self-limited. It can be severe in pregnant women and become chronic in people with weakened defenses.

Non-viral hepatitis

Many types of hepatitis have no infectious origin. They are, in fact, the most common in everyday practice.

  • Metabolic fatty liver (MASLD): today the most common liver disease. It is due to fat building up in the liver together with excess weight, diabetes and other metabolic factors. When it comes with inflammation it is called steatohepatitis (MASH). It is not contagious.
  • Alcohol-related hepatitis: caused by heavy, sustained alcohol use. It spans from fatty liver to severe alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
  • Autoimmune hepatitis: the immune system itself attacks the liver. It is usually chronic and responds well to medications that lower the immune response.
  • Toxic or drug-induced hepatitis: triggered by drugs, supplements or toxins. The best-known examples are acetaminophen overdose and some wild mushrooms.

The types of hepatitis at a glance

TypeHow it spreadsBecomes chronic?PreventionTreatment
Hepatitis AFecal-oral (water or food)NoVaccine, hygieneSupportive, self-limited
Hepatitis BBlood, sexual, mother-to-childSometimesVaccineAntivirals that control it
Hepatitis CBloodIn most casesNo vaccineAntivirals that cure it
Hepatitis DBlood (only with hepatitis B)YesHepatitis B vaccineSpecific antivirals
Hepatitis EFecal-oral (water or food)RarelyWater hygieneSupportive, self-limited
Fatty liver (MASLD)Not contagiousYesWeight and habitsLifestyle change
Alcohol-relatedNot contagiousYesAvoid alcoholStop drinking
AutoimmuneNot contagiousYesNot preventableImmunosuppressants
Toxic or drug-inducedNot contagiousDepends on causePrudent use of drugsRemove the causative agent

Which one is the most serious?

There is no single answer. Hepatitis A and E usually clear on their own and rarely leave lasting damage. Hepatitis B, C, fatty liver, alcohol and autoimmune hepatitis matter above all because they can become chronic and, over the years, lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. The good news is that almost all of them can be prevented, controlled or cured when detected in time.

If you have just been told you have a hepatitis and do not know which type, the first step is to identify the cause with blood tests. From there, each type has its own article with the details of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

See also

References

  1. Jeng WJ, Papatheodoridis GV, Lok ASF. Hepatitis B. Lancet. 2023;401(10381):1039-1052.
  2. Martinello M, Solomon SS, Terrault NA, Dore GJ. Hepatitis C. Lancet. 2023;402(10407):1085-1096.
  3. Tan EY, et al. Liver cancer in 2021: Global Burden of Disease study. J Hepatol. 2024;82(5):851-860.
  4. Hiebert L, et al. A 2024 global report on national policies, programmes, and progress towards hepatitis C elimination. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025;10(7):685-700.
See more in Viral hepatitis

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