What is the difference between Hepatitis A, B & c?

What is the difference between hepatitis a b c d e?

• Answer:

  HEPATITIS A Route of transmission: Fecal-oral Common sources: Poor sanitation, contaminated food and water Incubation period: 2-6 weeks Contagious: 2 weeks before symptoms to 1 week after symptoms Severity: Death is uncommon, does not cause chronic hepatitis chronic hepatitis or carrier state Prevention: a 2 dose vaccine is 96% effective HEPATITIS B Route of transmission: Blood and bodily fluids Common sources: Sharing needles with IV drug use, blood contaminated injuries (needlestick), mother to baby at delivery, unprotected sexual contact (especially anal intercourse) Incubation period: 6 weeks to 6 months Contagious: As long as test positive usually <3 months, but may be lifetime Severity: <1% die from acute hepatitis, but chronic hepatitis occurs in 1-2% adults & 90% infant with 25-40% becoming carriers with increased risk of cirrhosis or liver cancer Prevention: a 3 dose vaccine is 97% effective HEPATITIS C Route of transmission: Blood and bodily fluids Common sources: 50% from IV drug use now, prior to 1991 was from blood transfusions, now only 1 in 200,000 transfusions, blood contaminated injuries, mother to baby at delivery, tattooing (sharing of needles) Incubation period: 6 weeks to 6 months Contagious: 15% - <3 months, 85% - lifetime Severity: 50+% develop chronic hepatitis, with 30% of these developing cirrhosis or liver cancer, 40% of all liver disease in US, 51% of liver transplants, might be most common cause of primary liver cancer in US. Prevention: No vaccine, avoid sharing razors and toothbrushes, cover wounds with dressings, self clean-up of blood spills Symptoms: All forms of hepatitis can have similar symptoms with varying degrees of severity: fatigue, right upper quadrant pain/tenderness, nausea, poor appetite, muscle and joint pains. Treatment: Bed rest in acute phase (3-16 wks) as needed with gradual return to normal activities, with the majority having complete recovery. Avoid physical exertion, alcohol, and medications that may be toxic to the liver (check with your MD). Antiviral medications are being developed for treatment of chronic hepatitis B & C. The best treatment however is prevention by use of the vaccine and avoiding the risky behaviors listed previously in this article. (Reference: iupui.edu) HEPATITIS D Only persons with hepatitis B are at risk Transmission is through blood and sexual contact Symptoms and treatment are similar to hepatitis B, but the patient is more likely to develop fulminant liver failure and chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis. HEPATITIS E Transmitted by fecal-oral route Incubation period 15-65 days Resembles hepatitis A and is self-limited, with an abrupt onset. There is no chronic form. (Reference: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Medical Surgical text for Nurses)