Know Your Alphabet

Hepatitis A: The most common of the hepatitis strains, it’s also the most infectious, can lead to acute jaundice and be fatal in 30 per cent of the cases. It does not, however, cause chronic liver disease. It spreads through food and water and the infection gets progressively severe in older patients. There’s now a vaccine available for it.

Hepatitis B: The most fatal, it spreads like HIV through body fluids: blood and semen. One-third of the 45 million carriers in India are likely to die from liver failure caused by cirrhosis or cancer. Carriers may not show any outward signs but, like HIV, infect others. It is also at least a 100 times more infectious than aids. About two lakh babies get infected every year and complications can take 10-40 years to develop. Administration of a vaccine and immunoglobulins right after birth are preventive measures while chronic carriers can be treated through Interferon injections.

Hepatitis C: Like HIV again, it’s mostly contracted through blood and blood products, and also transmitted through needles, ear piercing, tattooing, acupuncture and sexual contact. About 20 million Indians are carriers. The disease can take years to develop and is complicated by cirrhosis or liver cancer. Discovered in 1989, there’s no vaccine available, only Interferon injection for treatment.

Hepatitis D: It’s a satellite virus and affects only those already infected by Hep B. It spreads like the Hep B virus and while there is still no vaccine, protection against the B strain minimises susceptibility to the disease.

Hepatitis E: Another common strain, it spreads like the A virus through food and water and produces no chronic carrier state. There’s no vaccine against this strain.

Hepatitis F: Discovered only about six years ago, research is still on on this virus.

Hepatitis G: Though it has been isolated, it is still unclear how it affects the human system. Preventive measures include vaccination, hygienic conditions, screening of blood and blood products and safe sex.