Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of viral hepatitis. Your doctor will: - Ask questions about your medical history - Do medical examination A blood test to look for parts of the virus or antibodies your body makes in response to the virus. Other tests can measure the amount of virus in the blood. Hepatitis A, B, and C all start as an acute (short-term) infection. Some acute infections can develop into lifelong chronic infections. Your doctor may do blood tests to see if the infection is acute or chronic. Hepatitis A only causes acute infection. Most people recover without lasting health problems. Hepatitis B and C can cause acute and chronic infections. Some people recover from an acute infection and are unable to pass the infection on to others. In others, the infection becomes chronic and can be transmitted to other people. Chronic hepatitis A and B can lead to serious health problems such as: - Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver - Liver cancer - Liver failure Most people recover from hepatitis A with no treatment or long-lasting health problems.