Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). People who get hepatitis A may feel sick for a few weeks to several months but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage.

Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by an infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Some people who become infected can go on to develop a chronic, or lifelong, infection. Over time, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious liver damage, and even liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is a disease caused by an infection of the liver with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). For some people, hepatitis C is a mild, short-term illness, but for more than half of people who become infected, it becomes a chronic infection that can lead to liver disease and liver cancer.