How hepatitis spreads depends on which type you have
Hepatitis A, B, and C spread in different ways, and knowing which type matters because it changes how you protect yourself and others. Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B and C spread through blood or body fluids. Some types are much easier to catch than others, and some can be prevented with a vaccine.
The virus that causes each type lives in different parts of your body and leaves your body in different ways. That is why someone with hepatitis A might spread it through a handshake if they did not wash their hands after the bathroom, while hepatitis B requires direct contact with blood.
Key Takeaways
- Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food or water and is the easiest type to catch, but a vaccine prevents it almost completely.
- Hepatitis B spreads through blood and body fluids, including during sex or childbirth, and a vaccine is available for people not yet infected.
- Hepatitis C spreads through blood-to-blood contact, most commonly through shared needles, and there is no vaccine yet.
- You cannot catch any type of hepatitis from hugging, shaking hands, sharing food, or sitting near someone who has it.
- If you think you have been exposed, telling your doctor right away matters because some exposures can be stopped with treatment given soon after contact.
Hepatitis A: spread through food and water
Hepatitis A spreads when you swallow the virus, usually from contaminated food or water. The virus lives in the intestines and stool of someone with hepatitis A. If that person does not wash their hands well after using the bathroom, they can pass the virus to food they touch, surfaces they handle, or people they shake hands with who then touch their face or mouth.
Hepatitis A can also spread through raw or undercooked shellfish from contaminated water, or through food prepared by someone with the virus. You are most contagious in the two weeks before symptoms start and the first week after they appear. Once you recover from hepatitis A, you cannot catch it again.
A hepatitis A vaccine prevents the infection in more than 95 out of 100 people who receive it. The vaccine is given in two shots, several months apart. If you have not been vaccinated and you are exposed to hepatitis A, getting the vaccine or an injection called immune globulin within two weeks of exposure may stop the infection from developing.
Hepatitis B: spread through blood and body fluids
Hepatitis B spreads through blood and certain body fluids. The virus does not spread through saliva, so you cannot catch it from kissing, sharing utensils, or eating food someone else touched. You can catch hepatitis B through:
- Unprotected sex with someone who has the virus
- Sharing needles or injection equipment
- A needle stick or cut with a contaminated object at work (mainly in healthcare settings)
- From mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth
- Sharing personal items that may have blood on them, such as razors or toothbrushes
Hepatitis B can cause a short-term infection that your body clears on its own, or a long-term infection that lasts for life. Whether you develop long-term infection depends partly on your age when you catch it — babies and young children are more likely to develop chronic hepatitis B than adults.
A hepatitis B vaccine prevents the infection in about 95 out of 100 people who complete the full series. The vaccine is given in three or four shots over several months. If you have not been vaccinated and you are exposed to hepatitis B, getting the vaccine plus an injection called hepatitis B immune globulin within 24 hours of exposure may prevent infection.
Hepatitis C: spread through blood-to-blood contact
Hepatitis C spreads through blood-to-blood contact. The virus does not spread through saliva, food, water, or casual contact. The most common way people catch hepatitis C is by sharing needles or other equipment used to inject drugs. Healthcare workers can catch it from a needle stick injury.
Hepatitis C can also spread from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth, though this is less common than with hepatitis B. Sexual transmission of hepatitis C is rare but possible, especially if there are cuts or sores. Sharing a toothbrush or razor with someone who has hepatitis C carries a small risk if you have cuts in your mouth or on your skin.
Most people who catch hepatitis C develop a long-term infection. Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C yet. However, modern medicines can cure hepatitis C in more than 95 out of 100 people who take them. If you think you have been exposed to hepatitis C, tell your doctor right away so they can test you and discuss treatment options.
What does not spread hepatitis
You cannot catch hepatitis from hugging, shaking hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting near someone who has it. You cannot catch it from sharing a meal, drinking from the same glass, or using the same bathroom (unless there is visible blood). You cannot catch it from mosquitoes or other insects, and you cannot catch it from a blood transfusion in the United States because all donated blood is tested for hepatitis B and C.
These facts matter because they mean you can live with, work with, and spend time around someone with hepatitis without catching it, as long as you take basic precautions. For hepatitis A, that means washing your hands. For hepatitis B and C, that means avoiding contact with blood and body fluids.
What to do if you think you have been exposed
If you think you have been exposed to hepatitis A, B, or C, tell your doctor or go to an urgent care clinic as soon as you can. The sooner you report the exposure, the more options you have. For hepatitis A and B, getting vaccinated or receiving immune globulin within days of exposure may prevent infection. For hepatitis C, early testing can catch the infection before symptoms start, and early treatment works better.
Write down what happened, when it happened, and how you think you were exposed. This information helps your doctor decide what tests you need and what steps to take next. If the exposure happened at work, tell your employer and occupational health department right away — they may have protocols to follow.
If you share needles or inject drugs, talk to your doctor about hepatitis B and C testing and vaccination. If you are sexually active, ask your doctor whether you need hepatitis B vaccination. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor so they can test you and discuss ways to protect your baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I catch hepatitis from sharing a toothbrush?
Hepatitis A does not spread this way. Hepatitis B and C could theoretically spread through a shared toothbrush if both people have cuts or sores in their mouth, but this is very rare. The risk is higher if there is visible blood on the toothbrush. To be safe, do not share toothbrushes, razors, or other items that might have blood on them.
If someone in my house has hepatitis, do I need to be vaccinated?
Yes, if you have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Hepatitis A spreads easily in a household, so vaccination is important. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended for household contacts. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines you need and when to get them.
Can a baby catch hepatitis from a mother who has it?
Yes, but the risk and timing depend on the type. Hepatitis B and C can spread from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth. Hepatitis A rarely spreads this way. If you are pregnant and have hepatitis, tell your doctor so they can monitor you and plan care to reduce the risk to your baby.
What should I do if I get a needle stick at work?
Wash the wound with soap and water right away, then tell your supervisor and go to occupational health or the emergency room immediately. They will test the needle source if possible, test you, and may start you on preventive treatment for hepatitis B or C. The sooner you report it, the better your options.
Is hepatitis contagious before symptoms start?
Yes. With hepatitis A, you are most contagious before symptoms appear. With hepatitis B and C, you can spread the virus even if you never develop symptoms or if symptoms take months or years to show up. This is why testing is important if you think you have been exposed.