Hepatitis Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hepatitis is inflammation (swelling and irritation) of the liver. When the liver doesn’t work properly, it can cause serious illness and, in some cases, can be life‑threatening. In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, early testing, vaccination, and treatment are available through local providers such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, and the Kent County Health Department.

The liver is essential for:

  • Regulating metabolism
  • Making important proteins (including clotting factors)
  • Storing vitamins and iron
  • Filtering toxins and drugs from the blood

Chronic hepatitis means ongoing inflammation of the liver that lasts longer than six months, regardless of the cause.

Types of Hepatitis

Hepatitis can be caused by:

  • Viruses (hepatitis A, B, C, D, E)
  • Alcohol use
  • Certain medications and toxins
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Metabolic or genetic conditions

The most common types of viral hepatitis in the United States, including Michigan, are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Viral hepatitis types are named with letters: A, B, C, D, and E. They all affect the liver but are spread in different ways and require different prevention and treatment strategies.

Symptoms of Hepatitis

Not everyone with hepatitis has symptoms. Many people in Grand Rapids may feel completely well while their liver is being damaged, which is why blood testing is so important.

When symptoms do occur, they may include:

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
  • Fever
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Abdominal discomfort or pain (especially in the upper right side)
  • Dark urine
  • Pale or clay-colored stools
  • Lethargy (feeling very tired)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Painful joints
  • Swelling in the legs or abdomen (edema)
  • Easy bruising or bleeding

The only way to know for sure if you have hepatitis is to talk with a healthcare provider and get a blood test. In Grand Rapids, testing is available through primary care offices, urgent care centers, hospital systems, and the Kent County Health Department.

Hepatitis A in Grand Rapids, MI

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Anyone can be at risk, but outbreaks are more common where sanitation is poor or where there is close contact in group settings.

How Hepatitis A Spreads

Hepatitis A is usually spread by the “fecal–oral” route, meaning:

  • Eating or drinking food or water contaminated with tiny amounts of stool from an infected person
  • Touching objects or surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth
  • Close personal contact with someone who has hepatitis A

In Michigan, occasional hepatitis A outbreaks have been linked to food service settings and close-contact environments. Good handwashing is especially important during cold-weather months in Grand Rapids, when people spend more time indoors and viruses spread more easily.

Symptoms and Course

Symptoms of hepatitis A may include:

  • Jaundice
  • Fever
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Dark urine and pale stools
  • Fatigue and loss of appetite

Symptoms may last several weeks, but most people recover completely and do not develop chronic (long‑term) liver disease. Infection with hepatitis A usually gives lifelong immunity against hepatitis A.

However, this immunity does not protect you from hepatitis B, C, D, or E.

Hepatitis A Vaccine in Grand Rapids

A safe and effective vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis A. It is recommended for:

  • Children
  • People who travel to countries where hepatitis A is common
  • People with chronic liver disease
  • People who use injection or non‑injection drugs
  • Men who have sex with men
  • People experiencing homelessness

Vaccination is available through:

  • Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health clinics
  • Kent County Health Department immunization services
  • Grand Rapids Public Health vaccination programs

Hepatitis B in Grand Rapids, MI

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can be acute (short‑term) or chronic (long‑term).

How Hepatitis B Spreads

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or other body fluids from someone with hepatitis B enter the bloodstream of a person who does not have the virus. This can occur through:

  • Unprotected (unsafe) sex
  • Sharing needles, syringes, or other injecting equipment
  • Sharing razors, toothbrushes, or items that may have blood on them
  • Needle-stick injuries (healthcare or occupational exposure)
  • From mother to baby at birth or shortly after birth
  • Rarely, transmission can occur during pregnancy through the womb

Chronic Hepatitis B

People exposed to hepatitis B may:

  • Clear the virus and recover fully, or
  • Develop chronic hepatitis B, where the virus stays in the body for life

Babies and young children who become infected are much more likely than adults to develop chronic hepatitis B.

Chronic hepatitis B can, over many years, lead to:

  • Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis (serious scarring of the liver)
  • Liver failure
  • Primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)

Hepatitis B Vaccination and Pregnancy

A highly effective and safe vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis B infection. In the United States, it is included in the standard childhood immunization schedule, beginning in infancy.

In Grand Rapids:

  • Pregnant women are routinely screened for hepatitis B through local hospital systems.
  • If a mother tests positive, her newborn should receive hepatitis B immunoglobulin and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth to greatly reduce the risk of infection.

These services are available through Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, and supported by the Kent County Health Department.

Hepatitis C in Grand Rapids, MI

Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus that can cause both acute and chronic liver infection. It is a leading cause of chronic liver disease and liver cancer in the United States.

How Hepatitis C Spreads

Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person with hepatitis C enters the bloodstream of another person. In the U.S., including West Michigan, the most common routes are:

  • Sharing needles, syringes, or other injecting drug equipment
  • Sharing equipment used to prepare or use drugs (cookers, cottons, straws)
  • Less commonly, through unregulated tattoos or piercings with non‑sterile equipment
  • Rarely, through sexual contact or from mother to baby at birth

Natural Course of Hepatitis C

After infection:

  • Around 30% of people clear the virus from their blood within a few months without treatment. These individuals no longer have hepatitis C and cannot pass it on.
  • Around 70% develop chronic hepatitis C if untreated, meaning the virus remains in the blood long term.

Of those with chronic hepatitis C:

  • About 10–20% will develop cirrhosis (serious scarring of the liver) over 20 years or more.
  • Cirrhosis significantly increases the risk of liver cancer and liver failure.

Modern Treatment for Hepatitis C

Treatment with direct‑acting antiviral (DAA) medicines has greatly improved outcomes. These medications:

  • Can clear the virus in up to 95% of people
  • Usually involve a short course of oral tablets (often 8–12 weeks)
  • Have minimal side effects compared with older treatments

In Grand Rapids, hepatitis C evaluation and treatment are available through:

  • Gastroenterology and hepatology clinics at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health
  • Infectious disease specialists
  • Community clinics and harm‑reduction programs supported by local public health

There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. If you have had hepatitis C in the past and cleared it, you can be infected again.

Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D (delta virus) is less common in the United States but is more prevalent in regions where hepatitis B is widespread.

Key points:

  • Hepatitis D only occurs in people who already have hepatitis B.
  • It can be acquired as a co‑infection (at the same time as hepatitis B) or as a super‑infection (on top of existing chronic hepatitis B).
  • It is spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids, including unsafe sex and sharing injecting equipment.

Preventing hepatitis B through vaccination also prevents hepatitis D infection.

Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is more common in low‑ and middle‑income countries with limited access to clean water and sanitation.

Key points:

  • Hepatitis E is usually acute (short‑term); chronic infection is rare.
  • The virus is found in the stool of infected people and animals.
  • It spreads mainly through eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
  • Person‑to‑person spread is less common than with hepatitis A.
  • Hepatitis E can be more severe in pregnant women, especially in the third trimester.

Pregnant women in Grand Rapids are strongly advised to consult their healthcare provider before traveling to areas where hepatitis E is common, particularly during the last three months of pregnancy.

Diagnosing Hepatitis in Grand Rapids, MI

If you live in Grand Rapids or West Michigan and are concerned about hepatitis, contact your primary care provider or a local clinic. Common tests include:

  • Blood tests

    • To detect hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E infection
    • To check liver function (liver enzymes, bilirubin, clotting tests)

  • Imaging tests

    • Liver ultrasound – uses sound waves to look at the liver’s size, texture, and blood flow
    • FibroScan (transient elastography) – a quick, non‑invasive test that uses ultrasound technology to measure the “stiffness” of your liver and estimate the amount of scarring (fibrosis)

These tests are available at major health systems in Grand Rapids and can be arranged by your doctor.

Treatment for Hepatitis

Treatment depends on the type and severity of hepatitis:

  • Hepatitis A and E

    • Usually short‑term infections
    • Treatment focuses on rest, hydration, and symptom management
    • Most people recover fully

  • Hepatitis B

    • Acute infections may not need specific antiviral treatment, but close monitoring is important
    • Chronic hepatitis B may require long‑term antiviral medications to reduce liver damage and lower the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer
    • Regular follow‑up with a liver specialist is recommended

  • Hepatitis C

    • Modern direct‑acting antiviral medications can cure most people
    • Treatment can reduce liver inflammation, prevent progression to cirrhosis, and lower the risk of liver cancer

  • Hepatitis D

    • Requires specialist care
    • Treatment options are more limited and focus on managing both hepatitis B and D and monitoring for complications

In Grand Rapids, hepatitis treatment is available with few restrictions through hospital systems, specialty clinics, and coordinated care programs. Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan based on your test results, overall health, and type of hepatitis.

Local Considerations in Grand Rapids and Michigan

Living in Grand Rapids and the broader Great Lakes region brings some specific health considerations:

  • Cold winters and long indoor seasons can increase the spread of viral infections, making vaccination and hygiene important.
  • Substance use and opioid epidemics in Michigan have contributed to an increase in hepatitis C cases related to injection drug use. Access to clean needles, harm‑reduction services, and treatment programs is critical.
  • Aging population and chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, which are common in Michigan, can increase the risk of liver disease and worsen outcomes from chronic hepatitis.

Local public health agencies, including the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health programs, work with hospitals and community organizations to provide testing, vaccination, education, and referrals for hepatitis care.

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, MI

If you are concerned about hepatitis, or think you may have been exposed:

  • Your primary care provider (GP)

  • Local hospital systems and clinics

    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health

  • Kent County Health Department / Grand Rapids Public Health

    • Immunization services (hepatitis A and B vaccines)
    • Testing and counseling
    • Information on local hepatitis and infectious disease programs

  • Infectious disease and liver (hepatology) specialists

    • For chronic hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis, or complex liver conditions

If you use injection drugs or are in recovery, ask your provider or local public health office about:

  • Harm‑reduction services
  • Clean needle and syringe access
  • Substance use treatment programs and counseling

Key Points About Hepatitis in Grand Rapids

  • If the liver doesn’t work properly, it can cause serious illness or even death.
  • Chronic hepatitis means ongoing inflammation of the liver, regardless of the cause.
  • The most common viral hepatitis types in the U.S. and Michigan are hepatitis A, B, and C.
  • Not everyone with hepatitis has symptoms; blood testing is the only way to know for sure.
  • Hepatitis A and B can be prevented with safe and effective vaccines.
  • Modern treatments can cure most cases of hepatitis C and significantly improve outcomes for chronic hepatitis B.
  • Local resources in Grand Rapids, including major hospital systems and the Kent County Health Department, provide testing, vaccination, and treatment for hepatitis.