Hepatitis A 

Hepatitis A is typically a food-borne illness that spreads through contaminated water and unwashed food. In terms of transmission, Hep A is the easiest to transmit – especially in children. Unlike some of the other types, however, Hep A does the least liver damage and is typically easily cleared up within six months. In all, Hepatitis A accounts for 20 to 25% of all cases in developed countries. Its incubation period is 2-6 weeks. During this period, the infected person is contagious and can spread the virus. 

Hepatitis B 

Hepatitis B is often transmitted through exposure to contaminated blood, bodily fluids, needles, and syringes, and can be spread from mother to child in childbirth. This variation is a chronic disorder that can sometimes lead to long-term liver damage, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver cancer following years of infection. There are two kinds of Hep B infections: 

• Acute Infection – When someone first becomes infected with Hepatitis B, it is considered an acute infection. In terms of symptoms, they can range from none at all to complete liver failure. Although, adults are usually able to recover with no further issues. 

• Chronic Infection – When Hepatitis B is left untreated in the blood for longer than six months, it is then considered to be chronic. While the majority of adults do not develop chronic Hep B, both infants and young children are less capable of getting rid of the virus. In turn, they might develop chronic Hep B.   

Hepatitis C 

Solely transmitted through infected blood or from mother to child in childbirth, Hepatitis C is one of the more threatening varieties. Not only can it cause liver cancer but it can also cause cirrhosis of the liver. Many times, those with Hep C do not experience any symptoms and are only diagnosed after abnormal liver enzymes are discovered during routine blood work. Such tests are sometimes run on patients with several risk factors, including a history of blood transfusions and exposure to needles. According to WebMD, 75% of those currently infected with Hep C were born between 1945 and 1965.  

Hepatitis D 

Hepatitis D is found exclusively in those with Hep B. Structurally, it is unrelated to the Hepatitis A, B, or C virus and it ranges from self-limited infection to acute fulminant liver failure. When left untreated, Hep D can become chronic and lead to end-stage liver disease with several relevant complications. Occurring more commonly in adults than children, Hepatitis is most often observed in those with a history of intravenous (injecting) drug use.  

Hepatitis E 

As one of the rarer variations of Hepatitis, you aren’t likely to run into Hep E. It exists most commonly in countries like Asia, Africa, and South America. Also known as enteric Hepatitis, this variation is similar to Hepatitis A and can also be transmitted through the fecal-oral route. While it is usually not fatal, it can be serious in pregnant women, ultimately causing fetal complications. 

Symptoms of Hepatitis