Table 1.

Comparison of Hepatitis Viruses

	Hepatitis A	Hepatitis B	Hepatitis C	Hepatitis D	Hepatitis E
Type of Virus	ssRNA	dsDNA	ssRNA	ssRNA	ssRNA
Discovery	1973	1965	1989	1977	1990
Global Prevalence	• 1.4 million cases per year106 • Occurs in epidemics	296 million4	58 million4	60 million82	20 million96
Transmission	Oro-fecal107	• Parenteral107 • Vertical • Sexual	Parenteral107	Parenteral107	Oro-fecal107
Incubation Period	2–6 weeks107	4–26 weeks107	2–26 weeks107	4–26 weeks107	2–8 weeks107
Chronic State	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No (may be seen in immunodeficiency states)
Clinical Symptoms	• May be asymptomatic • Symptoms may include:   - Fever   - Fatigue   - Jaundice   - Nausea   - Vomiting   - Anorexia	• May be asymptomatic • Symptoms may include:   - Fever   - Fatigue   - Jaundice   - Nausea   - Vomiting   - Anorexia	• Asymptomatic • Very rarely, symptoms occur in acute infection	Co-infection: Mirrors HBV Super infection: • May be asymptomatic • Symptoms may include:   - Fever   - Fatigue   - Jaundice   - Nausea   - Vomiting   - Anorexia	• May be asymptomatic • Symptoms may include:   - Fever   - Fatigue   - Jaundice   - Nausea   - Vomiting   - Anorexia
Laboratory Diagnosis	Anti-HAV IgM antibodies107	• HBsAg detection107 • HBcAg antibodies • HBV DNA PCR	• Anti-HCV antibodies107 • HCV RNA PCR	• Anti-HDV antibodies107 • HDV RNA PCR	• Anti-HEV antibodies107 • HEV RNA PCR
Treatment	Supportive	• Supportive • Anti-viral therapy	• Supportive • Anti-viral therapy	• Supportive • Anti-viral therapy	Supportive
Prevention	• HAV Vaccine • Improving sanitation • Provision of clean drinking water • Appropriate disposal of sewage • Educating the public	• HBV Vaccine • Screening • Educating the public	• Screening • Educating the public	• HBV Vaccine • Educating the public	• HEV Vaccine • Improving sanitation • Provision of clean drinking water • Appropriate disposal of sewage • Educating the public

Abbreviations: ssRNA, single stranded RNA; dsDNA, double stranded DNA; HAV, hepatitis A virus; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HDV, hepatitis D virus; HEV, hepatitis E virus; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HBcAg, hepatitis B core antigen; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; IgM, immunoglobulin M; IgG, immunoglobulin G.