Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver

 Signs and Symptoms:

Fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice, abdominal pain, clay-colored stool, dark urine

Testing looks for antibodies in the blood

hepatitis a virus

Hepatitis = Disease

Hepatitis A = virus

Single stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus

Transmitted fecal–oral; Ingestion of food or water contaminated with feces of an infected individual. In U.S. most cases international travel to developing countries with poor sanitary conditions, chlorination kills the virus.

15-50-day incubation period

Virus shed in feces 2 weeks before signs and symptoms and 1 week after signs and symptoms

Recover fully without medical intervention in 1-2 months. No chronic infection but 10-15% have a relapse in first 6 months

Treatment, if needed, is Hepatitis A Immunoglobulin (if needed) within 2 weeks of infection

Hepatitis A vaccine available (2 shot series for fully immunity 6 months apart 100% effective after 2 doses)

hepatitis b virus

Hepatitis = Disease

Hepatitis B = virus

Partially double stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus

2-6% of infected adults get chronic infection, of those who have a chronic infection 15% die of liver cancer

90% of infected infants get chronic infection

Transmission via infected blood or body fluids

Long incubation period average 90 days (range 60-150 days)

Signs and symptoms last weeks to up to 6 months

Chronic infection treated with antivirals or interferon

Hepatitis B vaccine available (3 shot series 95% effective in infants and kids 90% effective in adults). There is a new 2 shot series available for adults.

hepatitis c virus

Hepatitis = Disease

Hepatitis C = virus

Single stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus, enveloped

Transmitted via infected blood or body fluids

Incubation period 4-12 weeks

75-85% infected have chronic infection (15-25% infected clear the virus and do not have a chronic infection)

No vaccine

Chronic infections treated with antiviral medications

hepatitis e

Hepatitis = Disease

Hepatitis E = virus

Single stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus

Transmitted fecal–oral; Ingestion of food or water contaminated with feces of an infected individual. In U.S., most cases international travel to developing countries with poor sanitary conditions.

No chronic infection

Incubation period 2-6 weeks

Resolves without treatment, no chronic infection

No vaccine