Hepatitis is an infection of the liver. The group of viruses that infect the liver are called hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis infection causes inflammation of the liver, which means that the liver becomes swollen and damaged and begins losing its ability to function. People with hepatitis often get symptoms similar to those caused by other virus infections, such as weakness, tiredness, and nausea.
Hepatitis is described as either an acute or chronic illness. An acute illness will only last a short time and although it may be severe, most people recover from the illness within a few weeks with no lasting effects.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A virus is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. This type of transmission is called the “fecal-oral” route.
Hepatitis A is a virus that attacks the liver. For every 1000 people infected, 1 to 3 will die. Hepatitis A has a worldwide distribution occurring in both epidemic and sporadic fashions. About 22,700 cases of hepatitis A representing 38% of all hepatitis cases (5-year average from all routes of transmission) are reported annually in the U.S
Hepatitis A typically is spread among household members and close contacts through the passage of oral secretions (intimate kissing) or stool (poor hand washing). It also is common to have infection spread to customers in restaurants and among children and workers in day care centers if hand washing and sanitary precautions are not observed
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is also the main cause of liver cancer, which can be fatal. Hepatitis B is a very serious disease, but it is preventable. Hepatitis B vaccine can provide protection in 90-95 percent of healthy people. Hepatitis B is very easy to catch. It is 100 times catchier than the virus that causes AIDS.
Hepatitis B tends to recur once drug treatment is stopped and may be even more severe. Thus, an antiviral drug may need to be taken indefinitely.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is the most common cause of liver transplant in the United States. Hepatitis C is spread through contact of infected blood, injection drug use, and through an infected mother to her baby during birth. Most infected persons develop chronic, long-term hepatitis C (carrier) and can spread the infection.
Hepatitis C has been transmitted between sex partners and among household members, but the degree of risk is believed to be low. It can also be transmitted by needles used for tattooing or body piercing.
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis D is spread in similar ways to hepatitis B because the virus is found in blood. Therefore, whenever blood from an infected person enters the bloodstream of a person who is not immune there is the risk of transmission. Hepatitis D is a serious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV). You must already be infected with the hepatitis B virus to become infected with hepatitis D.
Hepatitis D is a disease caused by a small circular RNA virus (Hepatitis delta virus); this virus is replication defective and therefore cannot propagate in the absence of another virus. In humans, it only occurs in the presence of hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is a form of viral hepatitis which is prevalent in developing nations with poor sanitation. Like other forms of viral hepatitis, the condition is caused by a virus which attacks the liver, causing inflammation and a decline in liver function which can lead to fatigue, nausea, abdominal tenderness, and jaundice.
Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease, and contaminated water or food supplies have been implicated in major outbreaks. Consumption of faecally contaminated drinking water has given rise to epidemics, and the ingestion of raw or uncooked shellfish has been the source of sporadic cases in endemic areas.
Hepatitis E is endemic in regions of the world where sanitation is poor, particularly in parts of Asia, Mexico and Central America, and Africa. Since the 1950s, epidemics of ET-NANB have frequently been documented in the Indian sub-continent, in particular India.
Hepatitis F and G
Hepatitis F is still ill-defined and has only been described in a handful of cases, while Hepatitis G causes a mild illness that appears similar to hepatitis C. Besides infecting the liver, the hepatitis viruses show few similarities and none of them are closely related at the level of nucleic acid or protein.
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