What is viral hepatitis?
Viral hepatitis is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis virus, like hepatitis B or hepatitis C. It can cause your liver to swell, which can make it not work properly. Having hepatitis C, or chronic hepatitis B that’s left untreated for a long time can lead to other problems such as:
- Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
- Liver failure
- Liver cancer
How do you get viral hepatitis?
You can get viral hepatitis when blood or other bodily fluids from someone with hepatitis enters your body. This can happen by:
- Sharing any of the following with someone who has hepatitis: needles or syringes, tattoo or piercing tools that weren’t sterilized properly or razors or toothbrushes
- Having unprotected sex with someone who has hepatitis
- Having a mother with hepatitis when she gave birth
- Receiving blood or an organ from someone with hepatitis before
Viral hepatitis treatment
Treatment for viral hepatitis will depend on the type you have.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is treated with medications to help fight the virus and prevent further damage to your liver. Medications used to treat hepatitis B include:
- Oral medications that prevent the virus from making more copies of itself
- Injectable medications called interferons that help your immune system fight the virus and stop the virus from spreading
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is treated with medications that slow or stop liver damage. There is no vaccine to prevent it. But it can be cured if treated with antiviral medications.
Most people will have a combination of different antiviral medications to help fight the virus, such as oral medications that prevent the virus from making more copies of itself.
Optum Connections
Being treated with a specialty medication can be overwhelming. With Optum Specialty Pharmacy, you will be connected with a team of experts who provide clinical counseling and answer questions related to your unique needs and lifestyle, based on your medication or disease.
To help you get started, one of our patient care coordinators will call you to set up your account and answer any questions you might have. You'll also get access to Optum® Connections, an online platform built to help you manage your condition through virtual visits and a video series where you can:
- See how other patients with your condition have managed their diagnosis and treatment
- Get advice from clinical experts
- Learn more about your treatment