Type A Hepatitis Virus
Type B Hepatitis Virus
Type non-A/non-B
(Infectious Hepatitis)
(Serum Hepatitis)
Hepatitis Virus
Transfusions
Mode of
Transfusion
infected persons
Person-to-person
Transmission
products
contaminated
Water-borne
Personnel in Renal
needles, syringes
food borne
and Dialysis units
mothers to babies
Institutions with
long-term residents
2-6 weeks
4-24 weeks
2-15 weeks
Incubation
Mean: 30 days
mean: 90 days
mean: 60 days
Period
Isidious onset of
Insidious onset of
Generally asymptomatic
Prodromal
symptoms
variable symptoms:
at first with abrupt onset
Phase (Pre-
Includes same
of flu-like symptoms:
icteric)
Similar to type B,
symptoms as
headache, malaise, fever,
but less severe
Type A. Arthralgias
lassitude, and nonspecific
Uticarial skin rashes
GII symptoms such as
anorexia, nausea, upper
abdominal disconfort and
vomiting
Similar to Type B,
Prolonged acute
Jaundice
Icteric Phase
but less severe
phase with
Dark urine
anorexia, malaise
Pale stools
Most cases are
and abdominal pain
Tender and enlarged liver
without jaundice
Pruritis
Jaundice may or
may not occur
When jaundice reaches
its peak usually within
two weeks, symptoms
tend to subside
Prolonged
2-6 weeks convalescence Prolonged
Post-Icteric
convalescence
convalescence of 3-
Phase
6 months
carrier state
Table 1-1. Types of viral hepatitis.
(3)
Consult the local SOP or infection control nurse for guidance.
f. Blood Donation. Patients who have had viral hepatitis should be instructed
that it is unsafe for them to donate blood. They may contaminate a potential recipient.
1-58. NONVIRAL HEPATITIS
a. Toxic hepatitis (acute liver cell necrosis) is caused by ingestion, inhalation, or
injection of certain chemicals (hepatotoxins) that have a poisonous effect on the liver.
MD0918
1-58