Hepatitis A, B, C, and D are both viral hepatitis; it is impossible to generalize about which is more serious, but overall it is probably more serious for hepatitis B and C. This is because both types of viral hepatitis can cause both chronic infection and acute hepatitis. The hepatitis A virus is only capable of causing acute infection, and most of the symptoms are not severe after acute infection, and are basically contracted in childhood. However, some children with hepatitis A are really sicker, showing significant transaminase elevation and even jaundice. Hepatitis B and C can also cause acute infection and liver failure can occur, and some hepatitis B and C can be chronic carriers, which does not cause any liver damage, so each can be more or less severe. Hepatitis D virus is not a virus that can infect people independently, it can only infect people with hepatitis B. If a person with hepatitis B is infected with the hepatitis D virus, the corresponding liver inflammation is usually slightly more severe.