What Is Hepatitis?
If your doctor tells you that you've got hepatitis, you'll need to find out which type he's talking about. There are five kinds, and each has different causes. They share one thing in common: Hepatitis infects your liver and causes it to get inflamed.
What Causes Different Types?
The type of virus that's causing your hepatitis affects how severe your disease is and how long it lasts.
1. Hepatitis A (HAV)
HIV accounts for an estimated 1,781 new infections per year according to the most recent CDC data. Hepatitis caused by HIV is an acute illness (acute viral hepatitis) that never becomes chronic. At one time, hepatitis A was referred to as "infectious hepatitis" because it could be spread easily from person to person like other viral infections. Infection with hepatitis A virus can be spread through the ingestion of food or water, especially where unsanitary conditions allow water or food to become contaminated by human waste containing hepatitis A (the fecal-oral mode of transmission). Hepatitis A typically is spread among household members and close contacts through the passage of oral secretions (intimate kissing) or stool (poor hand washing). It also is common to have infection spread to customers in restaurants and among children and workers in day care centers if hand washing and sanitary precautions are not observed.
Highly contagious
Usually comes from contaminated food or day care employees
Flu-like symptoms last for 1-21 days before the patient sees signs of yellowing sclera.
The patient will also have dark-colored urine with no symptoms of a urinary problem.
Once treatment begins, it can take up to three months before the patient feels better.
Vaccination available
Usually comes from contaminated food or day care employees
Flu-like symptoms last for 1-21 days before the patient sees signs of yellowing sclera.
The patient will also have dark-colored urine with no symptoms of a urinary problem.
Once treatment begins, it can take up to three months before the patient feels better.
Vaccination available
2. Hepatitis B (HBV)
There were more than 19,000 new cases of HBV infection estimated by the CDC in 2013 and more than 1,800 people die each year due to the consequences of chronic hepatitis B infection in the United States according to the CDC. HBV hepatitis was at one time referred to as "serum hepatitis," because it was thought that the only way HBV could spread was through blood or serum (the liquid portion of blood) containing the virus. It is now known that HBV can spread by sexual contact, the transfer of blood or serum through shared needles in drug abusers, accidental needle sticks with needles contaminated with infected blood, blood transfusions, hemodialysis, and by infected mothers to their newborns. The infection also can be spread by tattooing, body piercing, and sharing razors and toothbrushes (if there is contamination with infected blood). About 6% to 10% of patients with HBV hepatitis develop chronic HBV infection (infection lasting at least six months and often years to decades) and can infect others as long as they remain infected. Patients with chronic HBV infection also are at risk of developing cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. It is estimated that there are 2.2 million people in the U.S. and 2 billion people worldwide who suffer from chronic HBV infections.
Contracted through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Risk factors include having unprotected sexual relations, getting tattoos or body piercings, and use of dirty needles
Virus is 50-100 times more contagious than HIV
Virus can lay dormant for 20 years
A pregnant woman has a 90 percent chance of infecting her unborn baby with the virus.
The virus is the leading cause of liver cancer
People of Asian descent are more susceptible
to
Vaccination available
Contracted through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Risk factors include having unprotected sexual relations, getting tattoos or body piercings, and use of dirty needles
Virus is 50-100 times more contagious than HIV
Virus can lay dormant for 20 years
A pregnant woman has a 90 percent chance of infecting her unborn baby with the virus.
The virus is the leading cause of liver cancer
People of Asian descent are more susceptible
to
Vaccination available
3. Hepatitis C (HCV)
The CDC reported that there were about 16,500 reported new cases per year (unreported is 13.4 times more than reported) of hepatitis C. HCV hepatitis was previously referred to as "non-A, non-B hepatitis," because the causative virus had not been identified, but it was known to be neither HAV nor HBV. HCV usually is spread by shared needles among drug abusers, blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and needle sticks. Approximately 90% of transfusion-associated hepatitis is caused by HCV. Transmission of the virus by sexual contact has been reported, but is considered rare. An estimated 50% to 70% of patients with acute HCV infection develop chronic infection. Patients with chronic HCV infection can continue to infect others. Patients with chronic HCV infection are at risk for developing cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. It is estimated that there are about 3.2 million people with chronic HCV infection in the U.S.
Contracted through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Risk factors include having unprotected sexual relations, getting tattoos or body piercings, and use of dirty needles.
Infection with this virus is the common reason for a patient to need a liver transplant.
Doctors see 25,000 new cases every year.
Treatment with medication is highly effective but the virus can lead to liver failure.
No vaccine available
Contracted through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Risk factors include having unprotected sexual relations, getting tattoos or body piercings, and use of dirty needles.
Infection with this virus is the common reason for a patient to need a liver transplant.
Doctors see 25,000 new cases every year.
Treatment with medication is highly effective but the virus can lead to liver failure.
No vaccine available
4. Types D, E, and G Hepatitis
There also are viral hepatitis types D, E, and G. The most important of these at present is the hepatitis D virus (HDV), also known as the delta virus or agent. It is a small virus that requires concomitant infection with HBV to survive. HDV cannot survive on its own because it requires a protein that the HBV makes (the envelope protein, also called surface antigen) to enable it to infect liver cells. The ways in which HDV is spread are by shared needles among drug abusers, contaminated blood, and by sexual contact; essentially the same ways as HBV.
Individuals who already have chronic HBV infection can acquire HDV infection at the same time as they acquire the HBV infection, or at a later time. Those with chronic hepatitis due to HBV and HDV develop cirrhosis (severe liver scarring) rapidly. Moreover, the combination of HDV and HBV virus infection is very difficult to treat.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is similar to HAV in terms of disease, and mainly occurs in Asia where it is transmitted by contaminated water.
Hepatitis G virus (HGV, also termed GBV-C) was recently discovered and resembles HCV, but more closely, the flaviviruses; the virus and its effects are under investigation, and its role in causing disease in humans is unclear.
water treatment workers
People with multiple sexual partners
Intravenous drug users
HIV patients
People with hemophilia who receive blood clotting factors
Blood transfusion, once a common means of spreading viral hepatitis, now is a rare cause of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is generally thought to be as much as ten times more common among lower socioeconomic and poorly educated individuals. About one third of all cases of hepatitis come from an unknown or unidentifiable source. This means that a person does not have to be in a high risk group in order to be infected with a hepatitis virus. In countries with poor sanitation, food and water contamination with HAV increases risk. Some day care centers may become contaminated with HAV, so children at such centers are at a higher risk for HAV infection s.
Associated with type B hepatitis and is "mostly associated with intravenous drug use," according to Wikipedia.
Symptoms are similar to those associated with type B hepatitis but come on more strongly, and deterioration of the liver is quicker.
Mortality rate for those infected with this virus is highest of all hepatitis patients, at 20 percent or higher
No vaccine available
Individuals who already have chronic HBV infection can acquire HDV infection at the same time as they acquire the HBV infection, or at a later time. Those with chronic hepatitis due to HBV and HDV develop cirrhosis (severe liver scarring) rapidly. Moreover, the combination of HDV and HBV virus infection is very difficult to treat.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is similar to HAV in terms of disease, and mainly occurs in Asia where it is transmitted by contaminated water.
Hepatitis G virus (HGV, also termed GBV-C) was recently discovered and resembles HCV, but more closely, the flaviviruses; the virus and its effects are under investigation, and its role in causing disease in humans is unclear.
water treatment workers
People with multiple sexual partners
Intravenous drug users
HIV patients
People with hemophilia who receive blood clotting factors
Blood transfusion, once a common means of spreading viral hepatitis, now is a rare cause of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is generally thought to be as much as ten times more common among lower socioeconomic and poorly educated individuals. About one third of all cases of hepatitis come from an unknown or unidentifiable source. This means that a person does not have to be in a high risk group in order to be infected with a hepatitis virus. In countries with poor sanitation, food and water contamination with HAV increases risk. Some day care centers may become contaminated with HAV, so children at such centers are at a higher risk for HAV infection s.
Associated with type B hepatitis and is "mostly associated with intravenous drug use," according to Wikipedia.
Symptoms are similar to those associated with type B hepatitis but come on more strongly, and deterioration of the liver is quicker.
Mortality rate for those infected with this virus is highest of all hepatitis patients, at 20 percent or higher
No vaccine available
Fast Facts
1. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. With hepatitis, the liver stops working well.
2. Viruses cause most hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of liver disease in the world.
3. At least five different viruses cause hepatitis in people. Hepatitis A and E are spread through contaminated food, water, and human waste. 4. Hepatitis B, C, and D are spread through an infected person's blood or body fluids.
5. Vaccines protect against hepatitis A and B. No vaccines are available for hepatitis C, D, and E.
6.Hepatitis B, C, and D can cause long-lasting problems, including liver scarring (cirrhosis) and cancer.
2. Viruses cause most hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of liver disease in the world.
3. At least five different viruses cause hepatitis in people. Hepatitis A and E are spread through contaminated food, water, and human waste. 4. Hepatitis B, C, and D are spread through an infected person's blood or body fluids.
5. Vaccines protect against hepatitis A and B. No vaccines are available for hepatitis C, D, and E.
6.Hepatitis B, C, and D can cause long-lasting problems, including liver scarring (cirrhosis) and cancer.
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