Types of Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis Virus	Description	Causes/Route of Transmission	Treatment	Prevention
HAV	Contagious, acute inflammation of the liver; most people recover completely	Ingestion of trace fecal matter from unwashed hands or eating food prepared in unsanitary conditions.	No medications; plenty of fluids and bed rest with a nutritious diet; avoid alcohol or medications that can further damage the liver during recovery.	Vaccine available.
HBV	Contagious, acute liver infection that may become chronic	Exposure to body fluids infected with the virus; transmitted via unprotected sex contact with infected blood sharing needles, syringes, razors, or toothbrushes with infected person mother-to-child during childbirth	No medications; plenty of fluids and bed rest with a nutritious diet; avoid alcohol or medications that can further damage the liver during recovery. Chronic infection is treated with antivirals only if severe complications arise to prevent liver damage.	Vaccine available Avoid risky behavior
HCV	Contagious liver infection, 55-85% of those infected develop chronic infection and 75% of these people will develop chronic liver disease	Exposure to body fluids infected with the virus; transmitted via primarily by needle-sharing with infected people during IV drug use mother-to-child rarely through sexual contact	Combination peginterferon/ribavirin treatment is difficult and resolves <50% of cases[2] adding direct acting antivirals boceprevir or telaprevir to above treatment improves viral clearance by ~20% but has more adverse side effects. Those infected with HCV should be vaccinated against HAV/HBV and avoid alcohol	No vaccine available. Avoid risky behavior.
HDV	Viral infection that can damage the liver; can only multiply if HBV is present. There are two types of infection: co-infection – infection with HBV and HDV simultaneously superinfection – person has HBV infection and then becomes infected with HDV	Exposure to body fluids infected with the virus; transmitted via unprotected sex contact with infected blood sharing needles, syringes, razors, or toothbrushes with infected person mother-to-child during childbirth	HDV infection will resolve on its own in persons co-infected with HBV. 80% of those with superinfection will develop chronic HDV infection that may progress to end-stage liver disease or cancer .	For those uninfected, get HBV vaccine since HDV requires HBV to multiply. For those with HBV, there is no HDV vaccine. Avoid risky behavior.
HEV	Acute inflammatory liver disease that does not become chronic.	Drinking water contaminated with fecal matter from an infected person. Transmission through blood is rare.	No medications; plenty of fluids and bed rest with a nutritious diet; avoid alcohol or medications that can further damage the liver during recovery.	No vaccine available. Avoid contaminated water.

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