Hepatitis A, B, & C – Compare and Contrast

Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by Nancy Carteron, MD, FACR

Is It Serious?

Hepatitis A (Hep A)

• Sometimes.
• There is no chronic form.

Hepatitis B (Hep B)

• Yes. It can become chronic.
• Infants are more likely to get the chronic form.
• Over time, people with hep B may develop: cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver and liver cancer.

Hepatitis C (Hep C)

• Yes.
• Most people get the chronic form.
• Over time, people with hep C may develop: cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver and liver cancer.

What Are the Symptoms?

Hep A

• Many adults and most children don’t have symptoms.
• When they do have symptoms, they might include: feeling very tired, fever, yellow skin or eyes, no appetite, dark urine, light-colored stools, nausea, stomach pain, or diarrhea.

Hep B

• Most children and many adults don’t have symptoms.
• When they do have symptoms, they might include: feeling very tired, fever, joint pain, yellow skin or eyes, no appetite, dark urine, light-colored stools, nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting.

Hep C

• Most people don’t have symptoms.
• When they do have symptoms, they might include: feeling very tired, fever, joint pain, yellow skin or eyes, no appetite, dark urine, light-colored stools, nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting.

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How Do You Get It?

Hep A

• Exposure to feces of someone with hep A.
• Infected food and water.

Hep B

• Exposure to blood, semen, or vaginal fluids of someone with hep B.
• Can be passed from mother to baby at birth.

Hep C

• Exposure to blood of someone with hep C.
• Can be passed from mother to baby at birth, but this isn’t common.

Who’s At Risk?

Hep A

• Someone who shares a bathroom or kitchen with someone with hep A.
• Someone who lives in or travels to areas where hep A is common.
• Someone who has sex with someone with hep A.
• Someone who works in or attends daycare or other places where people need diapers or help with toileting.

Hep B

• Someone who shares or works with needles for injecting drugs, tattooing, or piercing.
• Someone who has sex with someone with hep B.
• Someone exposed to blood or bodily fluids on the job.
• Someone who shares or handles razors, toothbrushes, or other personal care items with someone with hep B.

Hep C

• Someone who shares or works with needles for injecting drugs, tattooing, or piercing.
• Someone who has sex with someone with hep C.
• Someone who received blood, blood products, or an organ transplant before 1992.

Is There a Hepatitis Vaccine?

Hep A

• Yes.
• May be given at age 1 or after.

Hep B

• Yes.
• Should be started at birth.
• Everyone ages birth to 18 should be vaccinated.
• Babies born to mothers with hep B should get the vaccine within 12 hours.

Hep C

• No.

Is There Treatment?

Hep A

• No.
• Goes away by itself in 2-6 months.

Hep B

• Yes.
• Treatment isn’t always successful.

Hep C

• Yes.
• Treatment isn’t always successful.

What Should You Do if You Have It?

Hep A

• Rest.
• Don’t drink alcohol.
• Only take medicines approved by a doctor.
• Eat healthy food.
• Don’t donate blood, organs, or tissue.

Hep B

• Rest.
• Don’t drink alcohol.
• Only take medicines approved by a doctor.
• Eat healthy food.
• Get regular check-ups.
• Get vaccinated against hep A.
• Don’t donate blood, organs, or tissue.

Hep C

• Rest.
• Don’t drink alcohol.
• Only take medicines approved by a doctor.
• Eat healthy food.
• Get regular check-ups.
• Get vaccinated against hep A and hep B.
• Don’t donate blood, organs, or tissue.

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