Understanding the Difference Between Hepatitis A, B, C, and E

Hepatitis is a catchall term for viral infections that cause inflammation in your liver. Among the more common forms of viral hepatitis are A, B, and C, and the far less common E. While the distinctions made here are only letters, these forms of the viral infection differ in terms of transmission, symptoms, and longevity.

At GastroMed LLC, with six offices in Miami, our team of gastroenterology experts offers a wide range of services, including diagnosis and treatment of the many forms of hepatitis. One of the ways in which we serve our patients is through patient education, which is why we’ve pulled together the following look at hepatitis A, B, C, and E.

Starting at the top, let’s take a closer look at each of these viral liver diseases.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A, caused by the hepatitis A virus, affects a very small number of people in the United States — 6,700 cases were reported in 2017. The virus is passed by eating something contaminated or via anal sexual contact. The virus also can be passed through needles.

Hepatitis A is usually short-lived, lasting two months or less. The symptoms of hepatitis A — as well as the other forms of hepatitis — include:

Fever

Nausea and vomiting Loss of appetite Fatigue

Abdominal pain Dark urine Diarrhea Jaundice

There is a vaccine for hepatitis A, which is recommended for all children before the age of 1 year.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a trickier virus to pin down because it can range from asymptomatic to chronic. A little more than 22,000 cases of of hepatitis B in the US were reported in 2017, which means the disease isn’t terribly common.

Hepatitis B is transmitted through breaks in the skin or mucous membranes coming into l contact with blood or body fluids that are infected. Among those at risk for hepatitis B are:

Babies who are born to infected mothers

People who have sexual contact with an infected person People who share needles

Men who engage in sex with men

Often, HBV is asymptomatic, but the disease is most problematic in children. The CDC reports that 90% of infants and 25% to 50% of children aged 1-5 years will remain chronically infected with HBV, while 95% of adults will recover completely from the infection.

Hepatitis C

This form of hepatitis is the most common in the US, with 2.4 million people currently living with the disease and 44,300 cases reported in 2017. Hepatitis C is blood-borne and largely passed through sharing needles. While a few people experience only a short-lived infection, 70% to 85% of those who are infected struggle with a chronic infection.

While the symptoms are the same as those for other hepatitis infections, people with a chronic infection are at far greater risk of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer, which is why hepatitis C is one of the main drivers of liver transplants.

Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is uncommon in the US and is usually only found in those who travel to countries where the water supply isn’t sanitary. Hepatitis E is transmitted through the mouth or through feces. If an infection develops, it’s usually self-contained, and most people recover fully.

The bottom line is that any viral infection in your liver is serious and requires prompt treatment. If you’re displaying any of the symptoms described above, please contact one of our Miami locations for expert treatment.