| Disease |
Transmitted
through contaminated food and water |
Transmitted
through blood and body fluids. |
| Hepatitis
A (HAV) |
Hepatitis
B (HBV) |
| Sources of Infections |
- Ingestion of contaminated water of food - especially raw or
insufficiently cooked (fruits / vegetables / seafood)
- Cooked food handled by infected individuals
- Close person to person contact (within families / schools /
daycare centres etc.).
|
- Contacts with infected blood and body fluids.
- Contaminated IV needles, tattoo / body piercing and sharp
instruments.
- Having sex with infected person or multiple partners.
- Infected mother to new born.
|
| Who is at risk? |
Young and adolescent children
unexposed to infection in early childhood because of improved
standards of living. Household / outside contact with and infected
person can lead to infection. |
Infant born to infected mother;
people having sex with an infected person or multiple partners; I.V.
drug users, healthcare workers & hemodialysis patients. |
| Onset of clinical disease |
Usually abrupt |
Usually gradual |
| Clinical symptoms last for |
6 weeks - 3 months |
6 weeks - 3 months |
| Severity |
Age dependent. Symptoms more
severe and common in adolescents and adults. May require
hospitalization occasionally and in some cases, may lead to death.
10% of cases may relapse. |
Age dependent and occasionally
severe. May lead to chronic carrier stage. Can also develop into
fulminant hepatitis. |
| Signs and Symptoms |
Light stools, dark urine,
fatigue, fever and jaundice. |
Carriers may have no symptoms.
some people may have mild flu like symptoms, dark urine, light
stools, jaundice, fatigue and fever. |
| Treatment |
No effective treatment. |
Interferon is effective in
certain select cases. |
| Prevention |
Yes, Vaccine
available.
Immunoglobulin available. |
Yes, Vaccine
available.
Immunoglobulin available. |
| Other preventive measures |
Maintain personal hygiene. Eat
well cooked food (steaming may not be enough). Drink boiled water.
Ensure proper sewage disposal. |
Safe sex. Clean up any infected
blood with bleach and wear protective gloves. Do not share razors or
toothbrushes. |
treatment
