Difference between Hepatitis A, B and C

Hepatitis is a medical condition in which inflammation of the liver occurs. The inflammation is generally caused as a result of the liver tissue being damaged or infected. 

Some factors that can lead to hepatitis include alcohol abuse, autoimmune diseases, and viral infections. Hepatitis caused due to the virus is known as viral hepatitis. There are several types of viral hepatitis based on the type of virus that causes it.

Viral hepatitis occurs due to the transmission of a virus in the liver. When the virus enters the liver, it further penetrates the liver cells. With time, it starts to replicate. As a consequence to that, the liver starts getting damaged. Thereupon the condition affects the overall health of the patient.

These viruses can cause varying infections, some of which are short-lived (acute) and others long-lasting (chronic).

Although there is a big difference between hepatitis A, B, and C. However, the symptoms are almost the same for the types of viral hepatitis. A few major symptoms of viral Hepatitis are given below: 

1. Fever
2. Nausea and vomiting 
3. Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
4. Joint pain
5. Diarrhoea (most common in Hepatitis A infection)
6. Loss of appetite 
7. Yellowing of skin and eyes (referred to as Jaundice)
8. Urine colour goes dark
9. Pale or light colour stools 

However, most of the time, hepatitis patients do not show any signs or symptoms, due to which there is less awareness about this condition.

Hepatitis A is caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). The infection generally develops within 15 to 50 days of contracting a Hepatitis A virus (HAV). The infection spreads through stool. Liver disease patients, older people, and HIV patients are more likely to develop hepatitis A disease. 

How is Hepatitis A transmitted? 

Hepatitis A infection is usually spread through contaminated food and water. However, there are many other ways through which HAV spreads. The following are major ways: 

1. Food or Drink
   1. Eating undercooked or raw shellfish, especially caught from sewer water.
   2. Eating and drinking HAV-contaminated foods and drinks.
   3. Food prepared by a hepatitis A patient who didn’t wash their hands after using the washroom
2. Close person-to-person contact
   1. Coming in contact with an HAV patient.
   2. Having sexual relations with a hepatitis A-infected person.
   3. Getting in contact with contaminated objects, such as toilet seats or toilet papers and not washing hands appropriately.

Risk factors of Hepatitis A disease

Below are things that increase the chances of catching the Hepatitis A virus:

1. Travelling to a place affected by HAV endemic.
2. Coming in contact with an HAV patient.
3. Touching contaminated objects.
4. Homelessness.
5. Men having sexual intercourse with men.
6. Having HIV
7. Recreational drugs used without a needle.

Treatment for Hepatitis A disease

1. The hepatitis A virus does not harm the patient in the long run. Once the virus enters the body, the immune system prepares antibodies against it. 
2. There is no specific treatment for the hepatitis A virus. Doctors may provide medications to treat the symptoms, such as fever, joint pain, vomiting, etc. 
3. Moreover, the liver heals from HAV within six months of contamination without complications. However, vaccines are also available to protect against hepatitis A disease.

How to prevent Hepatitis A disease? 

The following measures can prevent the hepatitis A virus from entering the body:

1. Getting vaccinated against the virus within two weeks of contamination. 
2. Maintaining strict hygiene.
3. Avoid travel to hepatitis A - affected areas. 
4. Not coming in physical contact with more than one partner.
5. Avoid alcohol consumption and smoking.

Hepatitis B occurs through the transmission of the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in the liver cells. In most cases, the infection occurs for a short period. However, the infection prevails for more than six months in some instances. This condition is termed Chronic Hepatitis B. It may lead to Liver Cirrhosis, Liver Cancer and Acute Liver Failure. 

The infection usually develops within 30 to 180 days after contracting the hepatitis B virus. People who possess weak immune systems are more likely to catch the infection.

How is Hepatitis B Virus transmitted? 

The hepatitis B virus transmits through the following: 

1. Semen or blood of a hepatitis B-infected person enters a healthy person's body.
2. Using needles, syringes, razors, and other types of equipment of an infected person.
3. If the mother is infected, the infant catches the virus.
4. Touching the open sores of an infected person.
5. Touching or coming in contact with the saliva of a hepatitis B patient (for instance, through kissing).

Risk factors for Hepatitis B disease

Hepatitis B is more likely to develop in the following conditions: 

1. Sharing needles, syringes, and other medical equipment.
2. Maintaining physical relations with someone who has Hepatitis B.
3. A child being born to an infected mother.
4. Occupational exposure to HBV, such as healthcare workers.

Treatment for Hepatitis B disease

1. There is no specific treatment method for hepatitis B. However, for acute hepatitis B, treatment for curing the symptoms is provided to the patients. 
2. For chronic hepatitis B treatment, doctors try to cure the infection with the help of antiviral drugs. However, proper patient monitoring should be done to check for liver failure or liver cancer.
3. Hepatitis B vaccines are also available for infants, children and teens.

How to prevent Hepatitis B disease? 

Hepatitis B can be prevented by implementing the following measures:

1. Patients should get vaccinated to avoid catching the virus.
2. Patients should take the HBIG vaccine too.
3. People should avoid getting in contact with the infected person.
4. People should maintain proper hygiene.

Hepatitis C is transmitted by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Nearly half of the people infected with the hepatitis C virus don't even know they're infected. This is because hepatitis C often shows no symptoms. Even if symptoms develop, they might not appear for decades. 

Once the hepatitis C virus contaminates the person, it takes around 14 to 84 days for the infection to develop in the body.

How is the Hepatitis C virus transmitted? 

The following actions transmit the hepatitis C virus:

1. Using needles, razors, and other objects of an infected person.
2. An infant born to an infected mother.
3. Receiving or coming in contact with hepatitis C-infected blood or other bodily fluids.
4. Developing physical relations with the infected person.
5. Getting a piercing or tattoo with equipment that has been priorly used on an infected individual.

Risk factors for Hepatitis C disease

Below are the risk factors for hepatitis C:

1. Going through dialysis.
2. HIV patients.
3. Infants born to mothers with HCV.
4. Going through a blood transfusion or organ transplant.
5. People who received clotting factor before 1987.

Treatment for Hepatitis C disease

1. Hepatitis C is treated through antiviral drugs. 90% of people get rid of the infection with the help of antiviral drugs. This medication is taken for 8 to 12 weeks. 
2. Regular monitoring and treatment of the infected patient should be done in its initial stage to avoid liver cirrhosis and damage.
3. There's no vaccine for Hepatitis C disease. 

How to prevent Hepatitis C disease?

The following measures can be taken to prevent the hepatitis C virus:

1. Avoid contact with an infected person's blood.
2. Not sharing syringes.
3. Avoiding sexual relations with an infected person.
4. Getting tattooed only in hygienic parlours.
5. Not sharing personal items.

There are many differences between Hepatitis A, B, and C, including incubation time, source, transmission etc.Here's a Table showing a complete list of differences between Hepatitis A, B, and C: 

Parameters	Hepatitis A	Hepatitis B	Hepatitis C
Virus name	Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)	Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)	Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Classification	Picornavirus	Flavivirus	Delta virus
Kind of Virus	RNA	DNA	RNA
Source	Stool	Blood	Blood
Transmitted By	Eating contaminated foods or drinks	Getting in contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person	Getting in contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person
Treatment	No specific treatment	Using antiviral drugs, such as entecavir (Baraclude) and Lamivudine (Epivir).	Using antiviral drugs, such as DAA tablets
Vaccine Availability	Yes	Yes	No
Incubation Time	15 to 50 days	30 to 180 days	14 to 84 days
Chronic Hepatitis Risk	No	Yes (around 10% chance)	Yes (about 50% chance)
Prevention	Maintaining good hygiene	Getting vaccinated	Avoiding contact with HCV-infected blood

Viral Hepatitis is an infection caused in the liver. There are three most prevalent types of viral hepatitis, viz hepatitis A, B and C. Hepatitis B is the most critical one amongst these. Although there are numerous hepatitis A, B, and C differences, their symptoms remain similar. Maintaining hygiene and avoiding contact with an infected person's blood and other bodily fluids is best to help prevent these infections. 

If you or anyone is going through any hepatitis disease, it's best to avail the proper treatment at the right time. Otherwise, the infection would turn life-threatening. You can contact HexaHealth to get the best treatment for hepatitis. We at HexaHealth have a brilliant team of doctors with unmatched experience. Get on a consultation call with us free of cost!