What it is
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. It can have several causes, including the hepatitis A, B and C viruses. Hepatitis A is generally acute and self-limited, while hepatitis B and C can become chronic infections that last for years if they are not addressed.
Many people manage more than one health condition at a time. Hepatitis can overlap with HIV (often called HIV hepatitis coinfection), with kidney disease, with diabetes, and with other long-term conditions. These conditions can share risk factors, and each can influence how the others are monitored and managed.
The encouraging news is that modern care has come a long way. Hepatitis C can often be treated and cleared with antiviral medication, and hepatitis B is effectively managed with antiviral therapy and monitoring. Whether a particular approach is appropriate for any one person is a decision for a licensed clinician after an evaluation.
How it’s traditionally been approached
Traditionally, each condition was often followed by a different specialist. A liver or infectious disease specialist might oversee hepatitis, a nephrologist might follow the kidneys, and a primary care doctor or endocrinologist might manage diabetes.
Because the liver and kidneys help process many substances, clinicians have long paid close attention to how medications for one condition may interact with another. Blood tests, imaging and regular check-ins are common ways that care teams keep track of how the liver and other organs are doing.
In recent years there has been growing interest in integrated care, in which providers share information and coordinate decisions rather than working separately. Screening and vaccination for hepatitis are also commonly discussed as part of routine and specialty care, always as a conversation with a licensed clinician.
How the right doctor may help
The right doctor may help by looking at the whole picture. A first visit often includes a review of your health history, current medications and supplements, and any questions about how your conditions affect one another. The doctor may suggest tests or recommend that you see other specialists, depending on what an evaluation shows.
It can help to bring a list of everything you take, your recent lab results if you have them, and the names of the other clinicians on your team. This gives a provider a clearer view of how your care might be coordinated.
Questions you might ask include: Which of my conditions should we look at first? How might my medications interact? Should I be screened or vaccinated for any type of hepatitis? Who will coordinate my care across specialists? You can find licensed providers through Providers.plus.
The whole-person view
Body, mind and stress affect one another. Living with several chronic conditions can mean many appointments, a lot of information and real worry, and that stress can in turn affect sleep, energy and daily routines. Paying attention to the whole person, not just one diagnosis, is a long-standing idea in care.
Some people find that body-based support, such as the approaches offered through Somatic Experiences, helps them feel more at ease in their bodies. Others value talking with a licensed counselor, such as through Therapists.plus. Both can sit alongside medical care, and no one approach is right for everyone.
Keep in mind
- This page is for education only and is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan.
- Only a licensed clinician can decide what screening, vaccination or treatment is appropriate for you after an evaluation, and licensed professionals should guide your care.
- For emergencies such as confusion, severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, or significant yellowing of the skin or eyes with fever, call 911 right away.
- If you are in emotional crisis, call or text the 988 Lifeline.
Guides in this topic
Doctor types
Frequently asked questions
What is hepatitis treatment when you have other chronic conditions?
Hepatitis treatment with other chronic conditions is care that takes your whole health picture into account, including medications, organ function and other diagnoses. A licensed clinician decides what is appropriate after an evaluation. Coordinating among your providers may help keep everything working together.
What is HIV hepatitis coinfection?
HIV hepatitis coinfection means a person has HIV and a hepatitis virus, such as hepatitis B or C, at the same time. The viruses can share ways of spreading, so the two are sometimes seen together. A licensed clinician can explain screening and how care for both may be coordinated.
Can hepatitis affect the kidneys?
Hepatitis and kidney disease can sometimes be connected, and the liver and kidneys both play roles in processing medications. Whether and how they affect each other varies from person to person. A doctor can review your labs and medications to understand your situation.
Is there a link between hepatitis and diabetes?
Hepatitis and diabetes can occur in the same person, and each condition may influence how the other is monitored. Because the liver is involved in how the body handles blood sugar and medications, clinicians often consider both together. Ask your provider how they relate in your case.
Can hepatitis B and C be treated?
Yes, hepatitis C can often be treated and cleared with modern antiviral medication, and hepatitis B is effectively managed with antiviral therapy and monitoring. Which option is right depends on an evaluation by a licensed clinician. This page does not provide treatment plans.
What is integrated care for hepatitis patients?
Integrated care for hepatitis patients means that your providers share information and coordinate decisions across your conditions. It may reduce repeated testing and help avoid conflicting advice. You can ask your doctor who will coordinate your care and how your specialists will communicate.
Educational resource. Hep Programs shares general information and connects people with independent doctors. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with a licensed professional about your health.