Syringe, three vials with clear liquid on top of medical forms on a clipboard – close up

Syringe, three vials with clear liquid on top of medical forms on a clipboard – zoomed out

Hep A, B, and C: What’s the difference?

Are you confused about the different types of hepatitis? You’re not alone. There are many types of hepatitis that cause inflammation and damage to the liver, yet the most common forms are Hep A, Hep B, and Hep C. Learn about how these infections are transmitted, prevented, and treated.

	Hepatitis A	Hepatitis B	Hepatitis C
How is it transmitted?	Fecal matter that comes in contact with the mouth through: • Eating/drinking • Rimming • Anal sex/play • Putting an object in the mouth touched by unwashed hands • Touching toilets or objects and then touching the mouth	Blood, semen, other body fluids through: • Sharing equipment for injecting, snorting, or smoking drugs • Sharing syringes for injecting hormones or steroids • Any type of sexual contact • Tattoos or piercings (when equipment or objects are shared or not properly sterilized)	Blood: • Sharing equipment for injecting, snorting, or smoking drugs • Sharing syringes for injecting hormones or steroids • May be transmitted through anal or vaginal sex, yet not common • Tattoos or piercings (when equipment or objects are shared or not properly sterilized)
What are the symptoms?	• Fever • Loss of appetite • Fatigue • Abdominal pain • Diarrhea • Nausea • Vomiting • Yellowing of skin or eyes	• Fever • Loss of appetite • Fatigue • Abdominal pain • Diarrhea • Nausea • Vomiting • Yellowing of skin or eyes	• Fever • Loss of appetite • Fatigue • Abdominal pain • Diarrhea • Nausea • Vomiting • Yellowing of skin or eyes
Is there a vaccine?	Yes	Yes	No
How is it prevented?	• Vaccine • Frequent handwashing after using bathroom and before eating or using drugs • Not sharing items, such as drinks, utensils, cigarettes, and drug pipes	• Vaccine • Not sharing syringes • Not sharing drug equipment • Condoms • Getting tattoos and piercings only at reputable places	• Not sharing syringes • Not sharing drug equipment • Condoms • Getting tattoos and piercings only at reputable places
How long does it last?	Usually goes away in a month or two	Varies: can go away in a few months or last a lifetime	Varies: can go away in a few months or last a lifetime
How is it treated?	No treatment: most people recover fully on their own	Medications to manage ongoing (chronic) infection	Medications to cure the infection in as little as eight weeks
Can it come back?	No: after Hep A goes away, people are immune	No: after Hep B goes away, people are immune	Yes: after Hep C goes away or is cured, re-infection is possible

Hep A, B, and C: What’s the difference?

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