Hepatitis C is a contagious disease that attacks the liver, and can be passed on through contact with inf ected blood. Hepatitis C can be cured, but if you’re not caref ul, you can be inf ected with the virus over and over again.

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Hep C Symptoms: 5 Common Differences from Hepatitis B
STD Tips
Octo ber 3, 2013
Hepatitis C is a contagious disease that attacks the liver, and can be
passed on through contact with inf ected blood. Hepatitis C can be cured,
but if you’re not caref ul, you can be inf ected with the virus over and over
again. T he dif f erence between Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C lies in the
treatments, transmission methods, chances of reoccurrence and its
window period.
What is Hepatitis C?
Learn more about another silent killer – hepatitis C – and see how this
can be prevented. Research is ongoing to f ind out what the cure is, but
of course it’s still best if it can be prevented altogether.
Hepatitis C Overview
Similar to the other hepatitis conditions, hepatitis C is a contagious disease caused by a virus that af f ects
the liver primarily, namely the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which leads to inf lammation. It’s best to take note of
any manif esting symptoms, since most of the people inf ected don’t show any signs – not until evidences
of liver damage already show up.
T here are cases of hep c worldwide, with some countries even reaching 5% and above. Unsaf e injections
using contaminated equipment are said to be the main method of transmission in the af f ected areas.
Methods of Transmission
T here are several ways on how hepatitis C can be passed on f rom one person to another. Here are the
viruses’ methods of transmission:
Vertical transmission (f rom mother to child)
Hep C transmission f rom an inf ected mother to her child takes place, but only in rare cases. It’s
unclear whether the transmission takes place during gestation, delivery or both.
Body changes and modif ications
Hepatitis C risks are increased by tattooing; risks are said to increase two or threef old. Causes are
said to be contaminated dyes, and/or improperly sterilized equipment.
Shared personal items
Blood-contaminated personal items such as toothbrushes, razors and manicuring/pedicuring
equipment can bring exposure to HCV.
Sexual intercourse
T his transmission method is still being researched on, as there are studies saying that monogamous
couples present no risk. It’s recommended then that people with multiple partners use condoms to
avoid risks.
Healthcare concerns
Transf usion of blood products, blood transf usion and/or organ transplants that did not undergo
HCV screening are at greater risks of inf ection. Hospital equipment is also pointed as one of the
causes.

2. Hepatitis C Symptoms
T here are varied symptoms between acute hepatitis C inf ection and chronic hepatitis C inf ection. T he
incubation period f or HCV is two weeks to six months; at this period, inf ected persons rarely show any
symptoms.
Acute Hep C Symptoms
Patients with acute inf ections exhibit mild and vague symptoms such as:
Fatigue
Nausea
Decreased appetite
Weight loss
Muscle or joint pains
Jaundice rarely takes place in hepatitis C acute inf ections.
Chronic Hep C Symptoms
Most cases of HCV exposure evolve into chronic hepatitis C. A chronic inf ection is described as having
detectable presence of viral replication taking place f or at least six months.
Signs of hepatitis C that has become a chronic inf ection include the f ollowing:
Higher levels of liver enzymes
Fatty changes to the liver
Fatigue
Upset stomach with appetite loss
Increased tendencies to bruise or to bleed
Dark yellow urine
Jaundice
Main Dif f erences between Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C
Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C may have certain similarities, but they also have notable dif f erences.
Both types of hepatitis attack the liver, which at times causes major liver damage. Both types can be
transmitted f rom one blood contact to another. Both types are also treatable nowadays with medication;
improvements are made all the time – this indicates that inf ected persons with either of the two types can
live longer by implementing certain lif estyle changes.
Both types also have the same methods of transmission which include needle sharing and use of inf ected
medical equipment, vertical transmission, among others.
However, there are important dif f erences between the two types of hepatitis virus. Read on to know more
about those dif f erences.
Vaccines and Treatment

3. Hepatitis B:
Hepatitis B has a vaccine available that prevents you f rom being inf ected. Chronic inf ections however
don’t have any def inite cure.
A healthy lif e would still be possible; the virus may not severely damage your liver, yet you may need
to undergo treatment to control damages brought about by the virus.
Majority of the adults that get inf ected by the virus can have it cleared naturally, but children less
than a year old who weren’t vaccinated will develop a lif elong chronic inf ection.
Hepatitis C:
In contrast, hepatitis C has no vaccine available, but treatments are available instead to cure inf ected
patients.
Up to 80% of patients can be cured depending on their acquired strain. T he remaining 20%,
alternatively, clear the virus naturally during the f irst six months (acute phase), and does not develop
chronic inf ections which still requires treatments.
Window Period
(timef rame between inf ection and detection through blood tests)
Hepatitis B:
Hepatitis B’s window period is eight (8) weeks.
Hepatitis C:
Detection f or Hep C can come as early as 3 weeks through a PCR test, and 12 weeks through an
antibody test.
Transmission Methods
Hepatitis B:
Hep B virus can be passed on when you have blood contact with an inf ected person, but risks are
higher when the virus is passed on through body f luids – during sex, in particular.
Hepatitis C:
Hep C virus can only be passed on through having contact with an inf ected person’s blood. It rarely
happens that hep C virus will be transf erred through bodily f luids.
Chances of Reoccurence
Hepatitis B:
If a previously inf ected person successf ully clears the hepatitis B virus, the person will now be
immune; you won’t get inf ected again.
Hepatitis C:
If a person has been diagnosed previously with hepatitis C and was able to clear the virus
successf ully, this still does not indicate immunity; the patient can still be inf ected again, maybe with
the same strain, or perhaps dif f erent strains at the same time.

4. The Bottom Line
Both viruses are dangerous to handle, yet patients with a chronic case of hepatitis B has higher risks of
death. Chronic hepatitis B can be managed and can be avoided with proper vaccination, but when obtained
during adulthood – it’s manageable but not really curable.
You can possibly be inf ected with chronic hepatitis C several times, but it’s already a curable disease.
Majority of hep C patients could be cured with proper treatment.
http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepc-guide/hepatitis-c-symptoms
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