How is viral hepatitis transmitted?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on March 04, 2025
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Different types of viral hepatitis have different routes and methods of transmission. Hepatitis A and E are mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route via the digestive tract. Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through blood, sexual contact, and from mother to child. Generally, transmission through casual contact is rare. Most cases of hepatitis B are transmitted from mother to child. Hepatitis C is more commonly transmitted through needle stick injuries and blood transfusions. In terms of prevention, hepatitis A can be prevented by vaccination, and hepatitis B can be prevented through vaccination as well.

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Treatment of viral hepatitis

Once viral hepatitis occurs, the liver function is obviously abnormal. Patients may have significant discomfort symptoms such as fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and bloating after eating. Therefore, the treatment of patients with viral hepatitis mainly consists of two aspects. The first aspect is bed rest combined with a light, low-fat diet. The second aspect is pharmacological treatment. For patients with significantly abnormal liver function, medications that protect the liver and reduce enzyme levels are needed. If significant jaundice occurs, medications to reduce jaundice are required. Additionally, if the viral hepatitis is caused by hepatitis B or C, antiviral medications might be necessary. Only through active antiviral treatment can the damage to the liver by the virus be reduced, and thus better recovery of the patients can be achieved.

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Do you need a blood transfusion for viral hepatitis?

The treatment of viral hepatitis generally does not require blood transfusion. The primary treatment methods for viral hepatitis include ensuring plenty of rest, eating smaller and more frequent meals, and paying attention to diet. Additionally, medications that protect the liver, reduce enzyme levels, and alleviate jaundice can be used. For viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis B or C, formal antiviral treatment is also necessary. If liver damage is extremely severe, leading to liver failure and very high bilirubin levels, artificial liver treatment can be administered. Artificial liver treatment is of two types: one is plasma exchange, commonly referred to as a blood transfusion, and the other is protein adsorption; both of these methods are relatively effective.

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How does viral hepatitis spread?

Different types of viral hepatitis have distinct characteristics and are transmitted in different ways. Common types include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A and E are primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route via the digestive tract. Hepatitis B and C are mainly transmitted through blood, sexual contact, and from mother to child; general social contact does not typically result in infection. In terms of prevention, vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B.

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How is viral hepatitis transmitted?

Viral hepatitis comes in many types, with its main pathogens including hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, and others. Each type targets different transmission pathways; for example, hepatitis A and E are primarily transmitted via the digestive tract. They can spread through fecal-oral transmission, and ingesting contaminated food can lead to the dissemination of hepatitis A or E. For hepatitis B, the main transmission routes include mother-to-child transmission, blood and body fluid transmission, and close personal contact can also lead to the transmission of hepatitis B. As for hepatitis C, the primary transmission method is through transfusion of blood or blood products, and patients on dialysis are a high-risk group for hepatitis C infection.

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Typing of Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis mainly includes Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, etc., among which Hepatitis A and E are acute infections. Generally, there is no long-term damage to the human body after infection; recovery of liver function suffices. Hepatitis B and C infections are prone to becoming chronic, leading to chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C, respectively. These chronic infections can easily lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Among them, the carrier rate of HBsAg in hepatitis B is about 7%, and there are approximately 9.6 million people with hepatitis C in China. Therefore, the incidence rates of hepatitis B and C are relatively high, and if there are abnormalities in liver function, it is crucial to check for these diseases.