What are the differences between Hepatitis A, B and C?

Answer 1

In short, hepatitis A can only be transmitted orally and through feces, i.e. through contaminated food and water. It has a very good prognosis.

Hepatitis B can be transmitted through blood transfusions, sex, sharing needles and vertically from the mother to the newborn. A 1% of the patients will develop it very fast and die. A 10% will develop it as a chronic disease, out of which one third will be led to cirrhocis or liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is more transmitted through blood transfusions and sharing needles rather than sex or vertically. 85% of the patients are led to chronic hepatitis and 30% of those to cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Answer 2

Hepatitis A is an acute infectious liver disease caused by the hepatovirus hepatitis A virus. Most commonly transmitted by the orofecal route, such as contaminated food, hepatitis A does not typically have a chronic stage and will not cause permanent liver damage. The patient's immune system provides the antibodies against hepatitis A that confer immunity against future infection. A vaccine is available.

Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups to prevent hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. The virus lives in the liver cells and causes the liver to become inflamed. In time, hepatitis C can lead to permanent liver damage as well as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.

For further information please look it up under Mayo Clinic or the understated link.

Answer 3

HEPATITIS A is spread through contact with the faeces (poo, tutae) of an infected person.

It can be passed on through:

Close personal contact – including sexual
Poor personal hygiene
Sharing personal things with an infected person (toothbrushes, facecloths, towels, etc)
Contaminated food – including shellfish, from infected sewage.

The most infectious period for hepatitis A is usually from two weeks before jaundice shows until one week after. A blood test will show if someone has hepatitis A infection.

Thorough hand-washing with soap and water stops the infection from being passed on to other people.


HEPATITIS B is spread through the blood and body fluids of an infected person.

It can be passed on through:

Cuts, scratches, etc
Close contact with blood (and other fluids) from an infected person
Sharing toothbrushes, razors, towels, facecloths
Sharing skin-piercing and injecting needles
Sexual contact without condoms.

The most infectious period is from several weeks before someone is unwell until several weeks – or even months – later. Some people remain carriers of the hepatitis B virus for life.

Carriers of the hepatitis B Virus can spread the disease even though they are not sick. A blood test will show if someone has hepatitis B infection or is a carrier of the virus.
Hepatitis B is not passed on through blood transfusions, because blood donated in New Zealand has been tested for the virus for many years.


HEPATITIS C

HCV is spread mainly through contact with the blood of an infected person.

It can be passed on through:


Injecting drugs or sharing injecting gear
Tattooing, ear piercing, body piercing (these may be a risk if equipment is not properly sterilised)
Infection of cuts and scratches directly from an infected person’s cuts and scratches – this is rare
Sexual intercourse – this is rare.

With HCV, a person can be infectious with no symptoms at all. Talk to your doctor if you think you are at risk of HCV. Many people remain chronic carriers of HCV after they have had the illness.

Most of these people have HCV for life and need to know how to take care of themselves and others. A blood test will show if someone has HCV infection or is a carrier of the virus.

Answer 4

My brother had Hep C . Actually at the time it was called non A non B
They treated him im Toronto Hospital with interferon for 10 days and It cured him 22 years ago. But now he has died from cancer 3 years ago. Maybe started in the liver they suspected.

Answer 5

hepatitis A is treatable. The others are not.

Answer 6

if you have a,b you can take medicine to let it go away and it will help extremely c you have 10 years or less your basically dieing

Answer 7

This website (PDF) will break down all 3 types, it's a great link. Hope it helps!

http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4075abc.pdf

Answer 8

I coulsnt tell you all I know is that pam anderson has one of them.

Answer 9

several differences, among them, mode of transmission, varied degrees of mortality, treatments and root causes.