Alphabet of the common hepatitis viruses
Note: Co-infection with more than one of the hepatitis viruses has a serious impact on the prognosis for chronically infected persons. People infected with hepatitis C should be tested and, if susceptible, vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
Hepatitis A
Mode of transmission: Faecal-oral (poor hygiene)
Vaccine preventable: Yes
Chronic carrier state: No
Estimated chronic cases in NZ: N/A
Treatment: None, but
infection is seldom fatal. Hepatitis A is notifiable by doctors to the Medical
Officer of Health, so that outbreak control measures may be taken, including
the protection of contacts by immune globulin and vaccine.
Hepatitis B (HBV)
Mode of transmission: Blood and body fluids
Vaccine preventable: Yes
Chronic carrier state: Yes
Estimated chronic cases in NZ: 80,000
Treatment: Treatments
currently funded are interferon and lamivudine (ZeffixTM)
Hepatitis C (HCV)
Mode of transmission: Blood and body fluids
Vaccine preventable: No
Chronic carrier state: Yes
Estimated chronic cases in NZ:
35-40,000 (est. 1,300 new cases annually)
Treatment: Interferon
plus ribavirin can suppress viral replication (i.e. provide a cure) in over
half of the chronic cases. In February 2004 PHARMAC approved the
subsidisation of pegylated interferon alpha 2a (PegasysTM) as
monotherapy and in combination with ribavirin for patients with
chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C.
Hepatitis D (delta virus)
Mode of transmission: Blood and body fluids (only if infected with
B)
Vaccine preventable: Yes (i.e. if vaccinated for B)
Chronic carrier state: Yes (only
if infected with B)
Estimated chronic cases in NZ: Not known
Note:
Hepatitis D, or delta (HDV), is a hitch-hiker that can exist only
along with hepatitis B and causes more severe hepatitis. At present it is found
mainly in HBV carriers born in certain Pacific Islands (Western Samoa, Nuie and
Nauru) and in intravenous drug users, but is uncommon amongst Maori.
Hepatitis E
Mode of transmission: Faecal-oral
Vaccine preventable: No
Chronic carrier state: No
Estimated chronic cases in NZ:
N/A
Treatment: None, but seldom
serious.
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