|
Trait |
Hepatitis A |
Hepatitis B |
Hepatitis C |
Hepatitis D |
Hepatitis E |
Introduction
Virus type
Size in nm
Virus group
Strandedness
Antigen
Antibody |
RNA
27
Enterovirus
ssRNA
HAAg
Anti-HAV |
DNA
42
Hepadna
dsDNA
HBsAg, HBcAg, HBeAg
Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc |
RNA
30-60
Flavivirus
ssRNA
Anti-HCV |
RNA
35
Unclassified
ssRNA
DAg
Anti-HDV |
RNA
34
Calicivirus
ssRNA
Anti-HEV |
|
Incubation period |
15 to
40 days.
Average 30 days. |
45 to
160 days.
Average 120 days. |
30 to
180 days.
Average 7 to 9 weeks. |
15 to
160 days.
Average 75 days. |
2 to 9
weeks.
Average 40 days. |
Transmission
Fecal/oral
Blood borne
Saliva
Sexual
Vertical |
Yes
Uncommon
Yes
Uncommon
No |
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes |
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes |
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes |
Yes
No
?
?
Yes |
|
Symptoms |
May
have none.
Adults may have light
stools, dark urine,
fatigue, fever and
jaundice. |
May
have none. Some people
have mild flu-like symptoms, dark urine, light stools, jaundice,
fatigue and fever. |
Even
fewer acute cases seen than any other hepatitis.
Otherwise same as HBV |
Same as
HBV. |
Same as
HBV. |
|
Onset |
Acute
|
Acute/Insidious |
Insidious |
Acute/Insidious |
Acute |
|
Risk Groups |
Household or sexual
contact with an infected person or living in an area with HAV
outbreak. Travelers to developing countries, homosexual men and
IV drug users. |
Infant
born to infected mother,
having sex with infected person or multiple partners, IV drug
users, emergency responders, health care workers, homosexual men
and hemodialysis patients. |
Anyone
who had a blood transfusion before 1992, health care workers, IV
drug
users, hemodialysis patients, infants born to infected mother,
and having multiple
sex partners. |
IV drug
users,
homosexual men and those having sex with a HDV infected person.
|
Travelers to developing countries, especially pregnant women.
|
Confirmatory
diagnostic test-Blood |
HAV-IgM
antibody
test. |
HBs Ag.
|
Anti-
HCV antibody test.
HCV RNA test. |
Anti-HDV
antibody
test. |
HEV-IgM
antibody
test. |
Treatment and
Antiviral drugs |
Supportive care.
Immune globulin
within two weeks of
exposure. |
Supportive care.
Immune globulin within two weeks of exposure.
Interferon, Lamivudine,
Adefovir. |
Supportive care.
Pegylated Interferon,
Ribavirin. |
Supportive care.
Interferon. |
Supportive care. |
|
Prevention
Vaccine
Others |
Two
doses of vaccine
to anyone over the
age of 2.
Washing hands with soap
and water after going to
the toilet. Use household
bleach to clean surfaces
contaminated with feces.
Practice safe sex. |
Three
doses may be given to
anyone of any age.
Safe sex. Clean up infected blood
with bleach and wear protective gloves. Do not share razors,
toothbrushes or needles. Ensure safe Blood transfusion.
|
No
vaccine available.
Practice safe sex. Clean up spilled
blood with bleach. Wear gloves when touching
blood. Do not share razors or toothbrushes. Ensure safe Blood
transfusion.
|
No
vaccine available.
Practice safe sex.
Ensure safe Blood
transfusion.
|
No
vaccine available.
Avoid drinking or
using potentially
contaminated water. |
Chance of
development of
Fulminant Hepatitis (%) |
0.1
|
0.1-1
|
Very
rare |
5-20 |
1-2
(10-20% in
pregnant woman) |
Chance of
development of
Hepatocellular
carcinoma |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
? |
No |
Progress to
Chronicity (%) |
Rare
|
1-10
|
70-90
|
Common |
Nil |
|
Prognosis |
Excellent |
Worse
with age and debility |
Variable |
Acute-good
Chronic-poor |
Good
|
