Transmission | Symptoms and Prognosis | Prevention |
---|---|---|
Ingestion of something contaminated with the stool of an infected person, usually because of poor hygiene or inadequate sanitation (called the fecal-oral route Fecal-oral transmission of parasites A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside another organism (the host) and benefits (for example, by getting nutrients) from the host at the host's expense. Although this definition actually... read more ). | Usually no symptoms in young children Usually in older children and adults, typical symptoms of acute hepatitis (poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and often jaundice) Usually complete recovery Does not become chronic | Use of good hygiene when handling food and avoidance of contaminated water Vaccination against hepatitis A Hepatitis A Vaccine The hepatitis A vaccine helps protect against hepatitis A. Typically, hepatitis A is less serious than hepatitis B. Hepatitis A often causes no symptoms, although it can cause fever, nausea... read more for all children (see figure Routine Vaccinations for Infants, Children, and Adolescents Childhood Vaccination Schedules Vaccination protects children against many infectious diseases. Vaccines contain either noninfectious components of bacteria or viruses or whole forms of these organisms that have been weakened... read more ) and for adults likely to be exposed to the infection If people are exposed to hepatitis A, hepatitis A vaccine or standard immune globulin* |
Less easily transmitted than hepatitis A Contact with blood and other body fluids (such as semen, vaginal fluids, or saliva)—as occurs during the following:
| Generally more serious than hepatitis A and occasionally fatal More severe symptoms when people with hepatitis B also have hepatitis D Joint pains and itchy red hives on the skin (wheals) in addition to typical symptoms of acute hepatitis | Avoidance of high-risk behavior, such as sharing needles to inject drugs and having several sex partners Vaccination against hepatitis B Hepatitis B Vaccine The hepatitis B vaccine helps protect against hepatitis B and its complications ( chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer). Generally, hepatitis B is more serious than hepatitis A and... read more for all children (starting at birth—see figure Routine Vaccinations for Infants, Children, and Adolescents Childhood Vaccination Schedules Vaccination protects children against many infectious diseases. Vaccines contain either noninfectious components of bacteria or viruses or whole forms of these organisms that have been weakened... read more ) and for people likely to be exposed to the infection If people are exposed to hepatitis B (including babies born to mothers with hepatitis B), hepatitis B immune globulin* and the vaccine |
Contact with blood and other body fluids (such as semen, vaginal fluids, or saliva)—as occurs during the following:
| At first, usually mild or no symptoms but sometimes alternating between mild and more severe symptoms Becomes chronic in about 75% of people, with increased risk of severe scarring of the liver ( cirrhosis Cirrhosis of the Liver Cirrhosis is the widespread distortion of the liver's internal structure that occurs when a large amount of normal liver tissue is permanently replaced with nonfunctioning scar tissue. The scar... read more ) and liver cancer Primary Liver Cancers Primary liver cancers are cancers that originate in the liver. The most common is hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma). At first, liver cancer usually causes only vague symptoms (such as weight... read more , but usually only if cirrhosis has developed first | Avoidance of high-risk behavior, such as sharing needles to inject drugs and getting tattoos and body piercings No vaccine currently available |
Contact with blood and other body fluids (such as semen, vaginal fluids, or saliva)—as occurs during the following:
| Occurs only as a coinfection with hepatitis B and usually makes the hepatitis B infection more severe | Same as for hepatitis B:
|
Ingestion of something contaminated with the stool of an infected person, usually because of poor hygiene or inadequate sanitation (called the fecal-oral route) Occasionally consumption of meat from an infected animal | Severe symptoms, especially in pregnant women Does not usually become chronic | Vaccination against hepatitis E (currently, available only in China) |
* Standard immune globulin is a preparation containing antibodies obtained from the blood (plasma) of people with a normal immune system. It is used to treat a variety of diseases. Hepatitis B immune globulin contains antibodies obtained from the blood of people who have high levels of antibodies to hepatitis. It is given by injection into a muscle or into a vein. | ||
† A pregnant woman infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C can transmit the virus to her baby. |