How does hepatitis C virus differ from hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses?
A Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are all forms of viral hepatitisan inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. However, there are a number of characteristics that differentiate these diseases. Hepatitis A – is spread by a fecal-oral route or by eating and drinking contaminated food or water. In younger patients the infection often goes unnoticed. Most patients recover fully after a short illness. As a result of their infection, they develop lifelong immunity. Hepatitis B – is transmitted through infected blood and body fluids. It can be passed, for example, from mother to child during delivery. It can also be transmitted sexually, and is therefore a sexually transmitted disease. Hepatitis B is often spread through injection drug use. The majority of adults infected with the hepatitis B virus recover completely, and as a result of their infection, develop lifelong immunity to the virus. However, approximately 10% of adults and 90% of infants who become infected with hepatiti
