What Are the Differences Between Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B?
The inflammatory condition of the liver occurring primarily due to viral infection is known as Hepatitis. However, there can be other causes of Hepatitis. Sometimes, Hepatitis can occur due to drugs, alcohol, toxins and side effects of medications. Autoimmune Hepatitis is another type of this disease that occurs when your body produces antibodies against your own liver tissues.
Primarily, there are five viral classifications of Hepatitis - A, B, C, D, and E, where each type is caused by a different virus.
Now that you know about Hepatitis, let’s proceed to find out the differences between Hepatitis A and B.
Major Differences Between Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
Both Hepatitis A and B refer to conditions of liver inflammation. However, Hepatitis A is an acute and short-term disease. On the other hand, Hepatitis B is often a chronic or ongoing condition.
The table below points out the key differences between Hepatitis A and B.
| Parameters | Hepatitis A | Hepatitis B |
| Cause | Hepatovirus A (HAV) causes this condition. | Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes this disease. |
| Transmission | This disease is transmitted by contaminated food or water exposed to HAV that can be both faecal and oral. | This disease is transmitted via body fluids like blood, semen and vaginal secretions. |
| Symptoms | Symptoms are abdominal pain, discomfort near the liver, clay-coloured bowel movements, dark coloured urine, fatigue, intense itch and low-grade fever. | Symptoms reflect yellowing of your skin, sclera (jaundice), pale stool, loss of appetite, unexpected weight loss, flu-like scenarios, joint pain and weakness. |
| Treatment | Since this is a short-term illness, it may not need treatment. In case of diarrhoea, excessive discomfort or vomiting, bed rest and proper dietary plan to maintain his or her nutrition and hydration is recommended. | Has no specific treatment program. Chronic cases can be treated with antiviral medications that can continue depending on the severity. Regular medical check-ups are required to monitor the response of the particular medication. |
Since they are both types of the same disease concerning a specific organ of the body, i.e., the liver, both Hepatitis A and B may have common symptoms at times. So, proper diagnosis is recommended whenever an individual comes across the above-mentioned symptoms to figure out the type of Hepatitis.
Now that you know about the cause, transmission, symptoms and treatments, let’s move on to find who is at risk of Hepatitis A and B.
Who Is at Risk of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B?
The section of the population who are at risk of Hepatitis A are listed below -
- Those who have close contact with someone affected by Hepatitis A
- Those who have travelled to countries where the disease is common
- Homeless people
- Men who have sex with men
- Children in child care and their teachers
- Those who work with primates
- People who use recreational drugs, even those who do not use needles.
- Those with Haemophilia
On the other hand, individuals who are at risk of Hepatitis B are -
- Children adopted from countries with a high rate of Hep B virus
- Children born from mothers infected with Hep B
- People who have unprotected sex or have some sexually transmitted disease
- Individuals who share syringes or needles
- People on dialysis
- Individuals who live in close quarters with those who have Hepatitis B
- Healthcare workers and first responders
Now, let’s move on to the vaccination part.
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
Thankfully, both Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B can be prevented via vaccines. The Hepatitis A vaccine is about 95% effective in adults, lasting around 20 years and approximately 85% effective in children, staying around 15-20 years. Moreover, experts recommend that the following persons should get vaccinated against HAV:
- Those who are going to travel to a country where the disease is common
- Infants who will be travelling internationally
- Children at age 1
- Men who have sex with men
- Families that are adopting children from countries where the disease is common.
- Homeless people
- Those who use recreational drugs
- Individuals who are suffering from long-term liver disease
- Those who have direct contact with people with the virus.
- Anyone who wants to be protected from the disease.
On the contrary, the Hepatitis B vaccine is 98-100% effective in guarding against the disease. Additionally, it lasts for up to 20 years. The following individuals should get vaccinated against the HBV:
- Persons who are under 18 and not vaccinated at birth
- New-borns
- Individuals with chronic liver, kidney diseases or HIV/AIDS
- People who are travelling to the areas with high rates of Hep B infections
- Men who have sex with men
- Adults with diabetes
- People who inject drugs
- Sexual partners of infected persons
- Healthcare workers who are exposed to blood and other body fluids
Now, let’s learn about the other preventive measures to be followed for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B besides vaccination.
What Are the Preventive Measures to Be Taken for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B?
You can prevent Hepatitis A by keeping the following pointers in mind:
- Maintain proper hygiene
- Avoid drinking tap water or raw food
In contrast, Hepatitis B can be prevented by following these:
- Use protection while having sex
- Wear gloves after you clean up after others
- Don’t share toothbrushes, razors, and pierced earrings with anyone
Knowing the differences between Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B is necessary to identify the symptoms and proceed with the treatment accordingly. Both the diseases are preventable and curable. However, there is a chance that the conditions can become very severe, resulting in death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the treatment of Hepatitis A?
There is no medication for Hepatitis A. The doctor will try to treat the symptoms until the disease goes away of its own accord.
Can you get more than one form of Hepatitis?
Even if you have had Hepatitis A or C, you can still get the other forms of Hepatitis.