Different Types of Hepatitis

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'You hurt like crazy. You thought you have the flu so you decided to just lay low. When you made up your mind to see your doctor, you were already turning yellow' -- Hepatitis A.

'You found out you have the more serious form of hepatitis, one that accounts for estimated 8,000–10,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. You are scared and confused and you don't know if you are going to make it' -- Hepatitis C.

What Happens When You Have Hepatitis?

If the liver is inflamed, it is unable to perform its function, resulting to the build up of toxins in the body and nutrients are not properly processed and stored.

There are different types of hepatitis, and viruses A, B, and C cause the most common types. Other causes include bacterial infections, diseases, toxins, certain drugs and heavy alcohol use.

Causes / Transmission / Vaccination of Different Types of Hepatitis

This type of hepatitis does not lead to chronic infection. It is spread through person-to-person contact, ingestion of fecal-contaminated food and water, and raw shellfish taken from polluted water.

Vaccination is available for children starting at age 1 year, travelers to certain countries, and others at risk are recommended to take the vaccine.

Hepatitis B (HBV)

HBV is also called Serum Hepatitis, and is the cause in an estimated 2,000–4,000 deaths per year in the U.S. Some of those who become chronically infected during childhood and after childhood die prematurely from cirrhosis or liver cancer, and the majority remain symptom-free until they develop cirrhosis or end-stage liver disease.

It is spread through contact with infected blood during blood transfusion, mother to child at birth, use of contaminated needles, sexual activity, and adults to children living in close contact.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all infants, older children and adolescents who were not vaccinated previously, and adults at risk for HBV infection.

Hepatitis C (HCV)

It is transmitted by contact with the blood of infected person, through sharing contaminated needles to inject drugs, blood transfusion, needle stick injuries, sexual activity, mother to child at birth, sharing personal items such as razors or tooth brush or straws when snorting drugs. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C - research is under way.

Hepatitis D or Delta Hepatitis

Hepatitis D is another serious liver disease caused by Hepatitis D virus and the least common in the U.S. It occurs in people already infected with Hepatitis B. Its mode of transmission  is through contact with infectious blood, similar to how HBV is spread. There is no vaccine for hepatitis D.

Hepatitis E

Another serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). It is more common in India, Asia, Mexico and Africa; but rare in the U.S.

Fecal contamination-- ingestion even in microscopic amounts can cause the disease. Outbreaks are common in countries with poor sanitation. It does not lead to a chronic infection. There is currently no FDA -approved vaccine for hepatitis E.

Different Types of Hepatitis Symptoms

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