The ABCs of Hepatitis

HEPATITIS A is caused
by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) U.S. Statistics Estimated 17,000 new infections in 2010 Ingestion of fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts, from: Close person-to-person contact with an infected person Sexual contact with an infected person Ingestion of contaminated food or drinks Travelers to regions with intermediate or high rates of Hepatitis A Sex contacts of infected persons Household members or caregivers of infected persons Men who have sex with men Users of certain illegal drugs (injection and non-injection) Persons with clotting-factor disorders

HEPATITIS B is caused by the Hepatitis B

virus (HBV) Estimated 38,000 new infections in 2010 Estimated 1.2 million people with chronic HBV infection Contact with infectious blood, semen, and other body fluids, primarily through: Birth to an infected mother Sexual contact with an infected person Sharing of contaminated needles, syringes or other injection drug equipment Needlesticks or other sharp instrument injuries Infants born to infected mothers Sex partners of infected persons Persons with multiple sex partners Persons with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) Men who have sex with men Injection drug users Household contacts of infected persons Healthcare and public safety workers exposed to blood on the job Hemodialysis patients Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons Travelers to regions with intermediate or high rates of Hepatitis B (HBsAg prevalence of 2%) 45 to 160 days (average: 120 days)

HEPATITIS C is caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Estimated 17,000 new infections in 2010 Estimated 3.2 million people with chronic HCV infection Contact with blood of an infected person, primarily through: Sharing of contaminated needles, syringes, or other injection drug equipment Less commonly through: Sexual contact with an infected person Birth to an infected mother Needlestick or other sharp instrument injuries Current or former injection drug users Recipients of clotting factor concentrates before 1987 Recipients of blood transfusions or donated organs before July 1992 Long-term hemodialysis patients Persons with known exposures to HCV (e.g., healthcare workers after needlesticks, recipients of blood or organs from a donor who later tested positive for HCV) HIV-infected persons Infants born to infected mothers

Routes of Transmission

Persons at Risk

Incubation Period Symptoms of Acute Infection Likelihood of Symptomatic Acute infection

15 to 50 days (average: 28 days)

14 to 180 days (average: 45 days)

Symptoms of all types of viral hepatitis are similar and can include one or more of the following: Fever Fatigue Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Abdominal pain Gray-colored bowel movements Joint pain Jaundice < 10% of children < 6 years have jaundice 40%50% of children age 614 years have jaundice 70%80% of persons > 14 years have jaundice None < 1% of infants < 1 year develop symptoms 5%15% of children age 1-5 years develop symptoms 30%50% of persons > 5 years develop symptoms Note: Symptoms appear in 5%15% of newly infected adults who are immunosuppressed Among unimmunized persons, chronic infection occurs in >90% of infants, 25%50% of children aged 15 years, and 6%10% of older children and adults Most persons with acute disease recover with no lasting liver damage; acute illness is rarely fatal 15%25% of chronically infected persons develop chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer Estimated 3,000 persons in the United States die from HBV-related illness per year 75%85% of newly infected persons develop chronic infection 15%25% of newly infected persons clear the virus Acute illness is uncommon. Those who do develop acute illness recover with no lasting liver damage. 60%70% of chronically infected persons develop chronic liver disease 5%20% develop cirrhosis over a period of 2030 years 1%5% will die from cirrhosis or liver cancer Estimated 12,000 persons in the United States die from HCV-related illness per year No serologic marker for acute infection 20%30% of newly infected persons develop symptoms of acute disease

Potential for Chronic Infection

Severity

Most persons with acute disease recover with no lasting liver damage; rarely fatal

Serologic Tests for Acute Infection

IgM anti-HAV

HBsAg in acute and chronic infection IgM anti-HBc is positive in acute infection only

HEPATITIS A
Serologic Tests for Chronic Infection Not applicableno chronic infection

HEPATITIS B
HBsAg (and additional markers as needed)

HEPATITIS C
Screening assay (EIA or CIA) for anti-HCV Verification by an additional, more specific assay (e.g., nucleic acid testing (NAT) for HCV RNA) Testing is recommended for: Persons born from 19451965 Persons who currently inject drugs or who have injected drugs in the past, even if once or many years ago Recipients of clotting factor concentrates before 1987 Recipients of blood transfusions or donated organs before July 1992 Long-term hemodialysis patients Persons with known exposures to HCV (e.g., healthcare workers after needlesticks, recipients of blood or organs from a donor who later tested positive for HCV) HIV-infected persons Children born to infected mothers (do not test before age 18 mos.) Patients with signs or symptoms of liver disease (e.g., abnormal liver enzyme tests) Donors of blood, plasma, organs, tissues, or semen Acute: Antivirals and supportive treatment Chronic: Regular monitoring for signs of liver disease progression; some patients are treated with antiviral drugs There is no Hepatitis C vaccine.

Screening Recomendations for Chronic Infection

Not applicableno chronic infection Note: Screening for past acute infection is generally not recommended

Testing is recommended for: All pregnant women Persons born in regions with intermediate or high rates of Hepatitis B (HBsAg prevalence of 2%) U.S.born persons not vaccinated as infants whose parents were born in regions with high rates of Hepatitis B (HBsAg prevalence of 8%) Infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers Household, needle-sharing, or sex contacts of HBsAg-positive persons Men who have sex with men Injection drug users Patients with elevated liver enzymes (ALT/AST) of unknown etiology Hemodialysis patients Persons needing immunosuppressive or cytotoxic therapy HIV-infected persons Donors of blood, plasma, organs, tissues, or semen

Treatment

No medication available Best addressed through supportive treatment

Acute: No medication available; best addressed through supportive treatment Chronic: Regular monitoring for signs of liver disease progression; some patients are treated with antiviral drugs Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for: All infants at birth Older children who have not previously been vaccinated Susceptible sex partners of infected persons Persons with multiple sex partners Persons seeking evaluation or treatment for an STD Men who have sex with men Injection drug users Susceptible household contacts of infected persons Healthcare and public safety workers exposed to blood on the job Persons with chronic liver disease, including HCV-infected persons with chronic liver disease Persons with HIV infection Persons with end-stage renal disease, including predialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis patients Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled persons Travelers to regions with intermediate or high rates of Hepatitis B (HBsAg prevalence of 2%) Unvaccinated adults with diabetes mellitus 1959 (for those aged 60 years, at the discretion of clinician) Anyone else seeking long-term protection Infants and children: 3 to 4 doses given over a 6- to 18-month period depending on vaccine type and schedule Adults: 3 doses given over a 6-month period (most common schedule)

Vaccination Recommendations

Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for: All children at age 1 year Travelers to regions with intermediate or high rates of Hepatitis A Men who have sex with men Users of certain illegal drugs (injection and non-injection) Persons with clotting-factor disorders Persons who work with HAVinfected primates or with HAV in a research laboratory Persons with chronic liver disease, including HBV- and HCV-infected persons with chronic liver disease Family and care givers of recent adoptees from countries where Hepatitis A is common Anyone else seeking long-term protection 2 doses given 6 months apart

Vaccination Schedule

No vaccine available

www.cdc.gov/hepatitis

Publication No. 21-1076

August 2012