Hepatitis A and hepatitis B: what is the difference?

Hepatitis A commonly spreads when infected stool contaminates food, water, hands, or surfaces. Hepatitis B spreads through infected blood and certain body fluids, including during sexual contact or from parent to baby around birth. The two viruses are not interchangeable, and having one does not mean a person has the other.

Hepatitis A often causes a short-term illness, while hepatitis B can be short-term or persist and require longer-term monitoring. Feeling generally unwell, nausea, loss of appetite, and dark urine can occur with liver inflammation, but symptoms alone cannot identify the virus.

Arrange testing if you have symptoms, a known exposure, or a reason to think blood or body-fluid contact may have occurred. Tell the clinician about travel, household illness, sexual exposure, tattoos or piercings, shared injecting equipment, and vaccination history.

Ask about hepatitis A vaccination and hepatitis B vaccination as separate prevention decisions. Until assessed, avoid sharing razors or toothbrushes, cover open wounds, wash hands carefully, and use barriers during sex. Do not donate blood while infection is being considered.

Seek prompt medical care for jaundice, dark urine, persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, worsening weakness, or inability to drink. Confusion, fainting, or unusual sleepiness requires urgent assessment. A liver function test may be part of the evaluation, alongside virus-specific tests.

Ask which tests distinguish hepatitis A from hepatitis B, whether a recent exposure needs urgent prevention, whether close contacts need testing, and how long to avoid alcohol or sharing personal items.