Viral Hepatitis B: Introduction

Viral hepatitis includes five distinct disease entities, which are caused by at least five different viruses. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B (infectious and serum hepatitis, respectively) are considered separate diseases and both can be diagnosed by a specific serologic test. Hepatitis C and E comprise a third category, each a distinct type, with Hepatitis C parenterally transmitted, and hepatitis E enterically transmitted. Hepatitis D, or delta hepatitis, is another distinct virus that is dependent upon hepatitis B infection. This form of hepatitis may occur as a super-infectionin a hepatitis B carrier or as a co-infection in an individual with acute hepatitis B. Hepatitis viruses most often found in the United States include A, B, C, and D.