Hepatitis Comparison Chart KEY
Causative
Agent
HAV HBV HCV HDV HEV
Common
Name
“Infectious” “Serum” “Post-
Transfusion”
“Delta” “Enteric”
Transmissio
n Route
Fecal-Oral
(Enteral)
Travelers to
Foreign
Countries
Parenteral
Sexual
Perinatal
Parenteral
Sexual
Parenteral
Sexual
Perinatal
Can only be
present w/HBV
Fecal-Oral
(Enteral)
Age Most
Affected
Children Any Adults
1945-1965
birth yrs. have
higher
incidence
Any Young Adults
Onset Abrupt Insidious Abrupt
However pt’s
can be
asymptomatic
for 15-20 yrs.
before s/s
Abrupt Abrupt
Incubation
Period
15-50
days
45-160
days
14-180
days
15-64
days
15-50
days
Carrier State N/A Yes Yes N/A N/A
Severity Mild Can be
Severe, especially
in kids <5yrs
Typically sub-
clinical
Infection with HBV
often severe
Mild for most
However
Severe for
Pregnant pt’s
Disease
Progression
50-70% show
symptoms
Abrupt onset
w/flu-like
symptoms
Self-limiting
Different
depending on age
and comorbidities
Typically
asymptomatic
Chronic s/s’s
include liver
cirrhosis and
CA
Different
depending on
age group
Can range from
asymptomatic
carrier state to
50-70% show
s/s’s
Pregnant Pt’s:
Severe S/S’s,
including
miscarriage
