Often no symptoms

In its early stages, hepatitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the liver. It is caused most often by a virus that, once inside the body, lives and reproduces within the liver. This process causes the liver cells to weaken and die over time. Often, even in more advanced stages, hepatitis has no symptoms. Because of this, and because there are chemical and biological markers to indicate how the liver is functioning, a diagnosis of hepatitis is made on the basis of several tests. While some of the same tests are used in hepatitis A, B, and C, more tests are usually done to test for hepatitis B and C.

Once you become infected with the hepatitis virus, you can transmit the disease to others in as little as 2 weeks after you've been infected. That's why it's important to get tested if you think you may have been exposed to the virus and to encourage your friends and family to get tested if you have the disease.