Hepatitis A, B and C: an overview
Compare the differences among hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C with this handy table.
| Hepatitis: a comparison of hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A (HAV) | Hepatitis B (HBV) | Hepatitis C (HCV) | |
| What is it? |
A virus that causes inflammation of the liver. Does not lead to chronic (long term) liver disease. |
A virus that causes inflammation of the liver. Can possibly lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer in chronic cases. Chronic (long term) for about 5 per cent of adults who contract HBV. Chronic (long term) for about 95 per cent of children who contract HBV. |
A virus that causes inflammation of the liver. Can possibly lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer in chronic cases. Chronic for about 75 per cent of people who contract HCV. |
| Incubation or window period |
2-7 weeks. Average 4 weeks. Incubation/ Window period (from time of exposure until antibodies can be detected). |
6-26 weeks. Average 8-12 weeks. |
2-26 weeks. Average 6-9 weeks. |
| Transmitted by |
Oral-faecal
contact. Contaminated food and water or contaminated hand-to-mouth contact. |
Blood-to-blood
contact. Sexual contact. HBV positive mother to newborn baby. |
Blood-to-blood
contact. HCV positive mother to newborn baby (low risk). |
| Behaviours which put people at risk |
An infected person's unwashed hands coming into contact with food, drinking
and eating utensils. Household or sexual contact with an infected person. Travelling through developing countries. Oral / anal sex with an infected person. |
Sexual
activity with HBV positive person. Sharing any equipment when injecting drugs. Skin penetration (e.g. tattooing or body piercing) with non-sterile equipment. Medical procedures in some overseas countries. |
Sharing
any equipment when injecting drugs. Receiving blood products prior to Feb 1990 in Australia. Skin penetration (see left) with non-sterile equipment. Medical procedures in some overseas countries. |
| Symptoms in acute (short term) infection |
Adults may
have light coloured faeces, dark urine, fatigue, fever and jaundice (yellowing
of eyes and, sometimes, the skin). Usually lasts for 1-3 weeks. Some people, especially young children, may have no symptoms. |
Flu-like symptoms, dark urine, light faeces, jaundice, fatigue and fever. Most people experience symptoms. Occasionally, very severe hepatitis. |
Mild
flu-like symptoms can be present but are uncommon. Very rarely, people may experience symptoms of acute hepatitis. |
| Symptoms in chronic (long term) infection | None. | Fatigue, nausea, muscle aches and pains, abdominal discomfort or jaundice |
Fatigue,
nausea, muscle aches and pains or abdominal discomfort. |
| Treatment | Not applicable. |
Adefovir, entecavir, interferon and lamivudine. Some people choose to use complementary therapies for symptom management. |
Combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Some people choose to use complementary therapies for symptom management. |
| Vaccine |
Yes. It is safe and effective. |
Yes. It is safe and effective. Part of universal childhood vaccination. |
No. |
| Prevention |
Vaccination. Immunoglobulin after exposure. Washing hands after going to the toilet and before eating. If travelling to developing countries, consider vacination and seek advice on food and water risks. |
Vaccination. Do not share any equipment when injecting. Immunoglobulin after exposure. Practise safe sex. Avoid blood-to-blood contact. Follow standard infection control guidelines for first aid. Avoid sharing personal items (e.g. toothbrushes or razors) which could allow the transfer of blood from one person to another. |
Do
not share equipment when injecting. Avoid blood-to-blood contact. Follow standard infection control guidelines for first aid. Avoid sharing personal items (e.g. toothbrushes or razors) which could allow the transfer of blood from one person to another. |
Last Reviewed: 01 May 2007
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