Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis refers to a group of liver infections caused by five recognized types: hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E ^[1]. The source material presents this as an aggregate category rather than a single etiologic agent, with clinically and epidemiologically distinct subtypes ^[1]. Source-backed detail on the full etiologic spectrum beyond these type-level distinctions is not yet available.

The clinical course varies by hepatitis type, but the available source text explicitly notes that hepatitis A is typically self-limiting and managed with supportive therapy ^[1]. Hepatitis B may progress to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, indicating the potential for severe chronic liver disease ^[1]. Hepatitis C is described as capable of chronic infection and severe liver disease ^[1]. The pregnancy guideline also notes that viral hepatitis may be identified during pregnancy or postpartum and may have begun before the perinatal period or newly during pregnancy or the first year postpartum ^[2].

The sources frame viral hepatitis as a significant public health challenge, but they do not provide quantitative burden estimates in the supplied text ^[1]. Epidemiologically, the key pattern is heterogeneity across hepatitis types, with distinct transmission, prognosis, and management for A, B, C, D, and E ^[1]. The pregnancy guideline focuses on pregnant and postpartum women and people who screen positive, underscoring the relevance of perinatal surveillance and case-finding in obstetric settings ^[2]. Source-backed detail on geographic distribution, outbreak settings, or reservoir ecology is not yet available.

Transmission differs by subtype, and the supplied sources give specific examples for several types ^[1]. Hepatitis A is spread through fecal-oral contamination, hepatitis B is sexually transmitted and may also be spread perinatally, and hepatitis C is bloodborne ^[1]. The pregnancy guideline further emphasizes the risk of perinatal transmission as a core concern for viral hepatitis in obstetric care ^[2].

The supplied sources specifically identify pregnant and postpartum women, as well as individuals who screen positive for viral hepatitis infection, as groups requiring focused attention ^[2]. The pregnancy guideline also notes that infection may be present before pregnancy or arise during pregnancy or the first year postpartum ^[2]. The source material further indicates that people with HIV require special management considerations ^[1].

Preventive measures named in the source text include vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B ^[1]. For hepatitis C, the source states that no vaccine is available, although antiviral therapy can cure infection; this is a treatment-related point rather than a preventive measure ^[1]. The pregnancy guideline indicates that prevention and screening in pregnancy and postpartum are important components of care, but source-backed detail on specific schedules, product names, or intervention thresholds is not yet available ^[2].

In surveillance terms, viral hepatitis should be read as a family of related conditions rather than a single syndrome, because subtype determines transmission, prognosis, and prevention options ^[1]. Monitoring in pregnancy and the postpartum period is specifically relevant because infection may be pre-existing or first detected during that period, and perinatal transmission risk is highlighted ^[2]. Source-backed detail on case definitions, reporting thresholds, or lab-based surveillance algorithms is not yet available.

1. 1 Neuhoff BKS et al. Viral Hepatitis. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Jun 1. PMID: 40247447. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000938. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40247447/
2. 2 Viral Hepatitis in Pregnancy: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 6. Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Sep 1. PMID: 37590986. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005300. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37590986/
3. 3 Kwo PY et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Evaluation of Abnormal Liver Chemistries. Am J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jan. PMID: 27995906. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2016.517. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27995906/
4. 4 Viral hepatitis. British Journal of Oral Surgery. 1979. doi: 10.1016/0007-117x(79)90019-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0007-117x(79)90019-2
5. 5 Viral Hepatitis: Hepatitis C. Liver Disorders. 2016. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-30103-7_11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30103-7_11
6. 6 Viral Hepatitis: Acute Hepatitis. Scholarly DOI record. 2019. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-03535-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03535-8

ICD-10

B15-B19

ICD-11

1E50

Total cases

25.1M

Total deaths

18K

Peak month

2024-03

Coverage

3 reporting countries · 2000-01-01 → 2026-06-20