Hepatitis can be caused by many different things including viral infections, parasites, bacteria, chemicals, autoimmunity, drugs or alcohol. Of these, viral infection is the most common cause of chronic (long-term) hepatitis, which can lead to severe liver damage including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Five types of viral hepatitis are currently known – hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, of which A, B and C are the most common (Table 1). Hepatitis F and G also exist, although there is still some debate over whether these types are actually viral infections.
| Hepatitis A virus | Hepatitis B virus | Hepatitis C virus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virus type | Picornavirus | Hepadnavirus | Flavivirus |
| Genome | RNA | DNA | RNA |
| Route of spread | Faecal-oral | Bodily fluids, inculding blood, semen, saliva |
Blood-to-blood |
| Clinical course | Acute | Acute & chronic | Acute & chronic |
| Immunisation | Vaccine available | Vaccine available | No vaccine available |
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