Hepatitis A

	Hepatitis A (HAV)	Hepatitis B (HBV)	Hepatitis C (HCV)	Hepatitis D (HDV)	Hepatitis E (HEV)
What is it?	HAV is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. It does not lead to chronic disease.	HBV is a virus That causes inflammation of the liver. It can cause liver cell damage, leading to cirrhosis and cancer.	HCV is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. It can cause liver cell damage, leading to cirrhosis and cancer.	HDV is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. It only infects those persons with HBV.	HEV is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. It is rare in the U.S. There is no chronic state.
Incubation Period	2 to 7 weeks. Average 4 weeks.	6 to 23 weeks. Average 17 weeks.	2 to 25 weeks. Average 7 to 9 wks.	2 to 8 weeks.	2 to 9 weeks. Average 40 days.
How is it Spread?	Transmitted by fecal/oral route, through close person to person contact or ingestion of contaminated food and water.	Contact with infected blood, seminal fluid, vaginal secretions, contaminated needles, including tattoo and body-piercing tools. Infected mother to newborn. Human bite. Sexual contact.	Contact with infected blood, contaminated IV needles, razors, and tattoo or body- piercing tools. Infected mother to newborn. NOT easily spread through sex.	Contact with infected blood, contaminated needles. Sexual contact with HDV infected person.	Transmitted through fecal/oral route. Outbreaks associated with contaminated water supply in other countries.
Symptoms	May have none. Others may have light stools, dark urine, fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and jaundice.	May have none. Some persons have mild flu-like symptoms, dark urine, light stools, and jaundice, fatigue and fever.	Same as HBV	Same as HBV	Same HBV
Treatment of Chronic Disease	Not applicable.	Interferon and Lamivudine with varying success.	Interferon and combination therapies with varying success.	Interferon with varying success.	Not Applicable.
Vaccine	Two doses of vaccine to anyone over 2 yrs of age or older.	Three doses may be given to persons of any age.	None	HBV vaccine prevents HDV infection.	None
Who is at Risk?	Household or sexual contact with an infected person or living in an area with HAV outbreak. Travelers to developing countries, persons engaging in anal/oral sex and injection drug users.	Infants born to infected mother, having sex with an infected person or multiple partners, injection drug users, emergency responders, healthcare workers, persons engaging in anal/oral sex, and hemodialysis patients.	Blood transfusion recipients before 1992, healthcare workers, injection drug users, hemodialysis patients, infants born to infected mother, multiple sex partners.	Injection drug users, persons engaging in anal/oral sex and those having sex with an HDV infected person.	Travelers to developing countries, especially pregnant women.
Prevention	Immune Globulin within 2 wks of exposure. Vaccination. Washing hands with soap and water after going to the toilet. Use household bleach (10 parts water to 1 part bleach) to clean surfaces contaminated with feces, such as changing tables. Safe sex.	Immune Globulin within 2 wks of exposure. Vaccination provides protection for 18 years. Clean up infected blood with household bleach and wear protective gloves. Do not share razors, toothbrushes, or needles. Safe sex.	Clean up spilled blood with household bleach. Wear gloves when touching blood. Do not share razors, toothbrushes, or needles with anyone. Safe sex.	Hepatitis B vaccine to prevent HBV infection. Safe sex.	Avoid drinking or using potentially contaminated water.

Last Revised: 2/03