United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Hepatitis C

FAQ: What is hepatitis?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis means "inflammation of the liver." It is often caused by a virus that moves into liver cells and changes how they work. There are several types of hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccination, but there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is also a chronic infection, meaning that it never goes away.