Ampath National Laboratory Services
Your Consulting Pathologists
🌐 www.ampath.co.za
🩺 Introduction
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver.
- "Hepa" = liver
- "Itis" = inflammation
Hepatitis can be caused by:
- Viruses (e.g. Hepatitis A, B, C)
- Certain medications
- Toxins
- Alcohol
😷 Symptoms of Viral Hepatitis
May include:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Light-coloured stools
- Joint pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
Some people may have no symptoms at all.
🦠 Hepatitis A
- Type: Short-term (acute) illness
- Duration: Lasts a few weeks to 2–3 months
- Transmission:
- Found in stool of infected people
- Spread via contaminated food or water (especially where sanitation is poor)
- Spread via unwashed hands, especially during food preparation
Incubation Period:
- About 15 to 45 days
Symptoms:
- May range from none to life-threatening liver failure (rare)
Diagnosis:
- Blood test
Treatment:
- No specific treatment available
- Most people recover fully with lifelong immunity
Prevention:
- Hepatitis A vaccine
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): Vaccine and/or immunoglobulin depending on age and exposure timing
- Recommended for non-immune travellers, immunocompromised individuals, or those with liver disease
🧬 Hepatitis B
- Type: Can be acute or become chronic
- Transmission:
- Through blood and bodily fluids
- Common routes:
- Unprotected sexual contact
- Sharing needles (e.g. drug use)
- Mother to baby during birth
Incubation Period:
- 45 to 160 days
Outcome:
- Most adults recover without treatment
- About 1 in 20 adults develop chronic infection
Risks of Chronic Infection:
- Liver scarring (cirrhosis)
- Liver cancer
Diagnosis:
- Blood test
Treatment:
- Chronic cases may need antiviral medication
Prevention:
- Hepatitis B vaccine (part of routine vaccination since 1995 in South Africa)
- Post-exposure prophylaxis: Vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin
🧫 Hepatitis C
- Type: Can begin as acute and become chronic
- Transmission:
- Primarily through blood contact
- Rare cases through sexual contact or mother-to-child transmission
Incubation Period:
- 2 weeks to 6 months
Symptoms:
- Often minimal or none
Risk of Chronic Infection:
- 75–85% of people with acute infection develop chronic hepatitis C
Risks of Chronic Infection:
- Liver scarring (cirrhosis)
- Liver cancer
Treatment:
- Antiviral therapy can cure chronic infection
Prevention:
- No vaccine available
- No post-exposure prophylaxis
🔍 Comparison of Hepatitis A, B, and C
Transmission:
- Hep A: Contaminated food or water
- Hep B: Contact with blood or bodily fluids
- Hep C: Contact with blood or bodily fluids
Incubation Periods:
- Hep A: 15 to 45 days
- Hep B: 45 to 160 days
- Hep C: 2 weeks to 6 months
Duration of Illness:
- Hep A: Short term (full recovery)
- Hep B: Acute or chronic
- Hep C: Acute or chronic
Lab Testing:
- All three have reliable blood tests
Vaccines:
- Hep A: Yes
- Hep B: Yes
- Hep C: No
Treatment:
- Hep A: None
- Hep B: Antiviral medication
- Hep C: Antiviral medication
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP):
- Hep A: Vaccine and/or immunoglobulin
- Hep B: Vaccine and immunoglobulin
- Hep C: None available
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