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Hepatitis C may be the most famous (or infamous) hepatitis virus, but it’s just one of several that can make you sick. Hepatitis really means an inflamed liver. All of the hepatitis viruses can do this, although the viruses themselves are unrelated.

“The only thing the viruses really have in common is that they affect the liver,” says David Bernstein, MD, chief of hepatology at Northwell Health in Manhasset, New York. “It’s like saying you have a flat tire. There are lots of different ways you can get a flat tire, which are all separate and distinct.”

The various hepatitis viruses are transmitted differently and cause different types of illnesses. Hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common causes of liver inflammation; D and E are relatively uncommon. Meanwhile, unchecked hepatitis B and C can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and even liver cancer.

Here’s a guide to the alphabet soup of hepatitis viruses, how you can recognize them, and how you can stay safe.

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a common cause of food poisoning. It is usually passed through food or water that is somehow contaminated with feces, although it can sometimes be transmitted through sex as well.

Hepatitis B
Unlike hepatitis A, the second virus in the hepatitis alphabet can cause severe, chronic illness leading sometimes to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. It’s spread through bodily fluids such as blood, semen, urine, and saliva. Common modes of transmission include transfusions, dirty needles (from using IV drugs or even unclean tattoo or piercing needles), and from mother to baby. Most chilling, it can survive for days on objects like toothbrushes and razors, which is why it’s a really bad idea to share them.