The most common symptom of viral hepatitis B and C is no symptoms.

Hepatitis B

How It’s Transmitted

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enter the body of someone who is not. This can happen through sex, sharing drug-injection equipment, or from mother to baby at birth.

Symptoms

Many people infected with hepatitis B virus won’t experience symptoms. For those that do, symptoms can include dark urine, clay-colored stools, feeling tired, and yellow skin or eyes (jaundice). 

Treatment

For many adults, hepatitis B is a short-term illness; however, for some people, it can lead to a lifelong infection known as chronic hepatitis B. For some people, hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.

While HBV is not curable, your health care provider can help you determine the treatment that’s best for you.

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) recommends all adults 18+ get tested for hepatitis at least once in their lifetime (more frequently based on individual risk) and during each pregnancy.

The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to get vaccinated. Ask when you go in for your next STI test if the vaccination is right for you.

For more information about hepatitis, visit the CDC website.

Hepatitis C

How It’s Transmitted

Hepatitis C is a liver infection spread through contact with blood from a person infected with the virus. This can happen through sharing drug use equipment, from a mother to baby during pregnancy, and, less commonly, through sex.

Symptoms

Many people infected with hepatitis C won’t experience symptoms. For those that do, symptoms can include dark urine, clay-colored stools, feeling tired, and yellow skin or eyes (jaundice). 

Treatment

For many people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness; however, in more than half of people who become infected, hepatitis C can lead to a lifelong infection without treatment, known as chronic hepatitis C. For some people, hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all adults 18+ get tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime (more frequently based on individual risk) and during each pregnancy.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but treatments can cure most people with hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks.

For more information about hepatitis, visit the CDC website.