According to Dr. Bhumesh Tyagi (Shardacare, India), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) are both viral infectious diseases, causing serious effects on the liver. If not detected and treated promptly, both can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer. Although both cause hepatitis, these two viruses are different in their characteristics, transmission paths, and treatment, according to Only my health.
The difference between HBV and HCV
HBV (virus DNA): Can cause acute or chronic hepatitis. Some people recover from acute infections on their own, but can also progress to chronic hepatitis B.
HCV (virus RNA): Often not self-treated. Most infections turn chronic if left untreated, and are the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Transmission route
HBV: Transmitted through blood, secretions, unsafe sexual intercourse, from mother to child or sharing personal items such as a scissors, toothbrush to brush.
HCV: Mainly transmitted through blood (using the same needle, unsafe blood transfusion), less transmitted through sex or from mother to child.
Common symptoms
Both diseases progress silently, with few obvious symptoms in the early stages. Some symptoms may include:
Prolonged fatigue
Nausea, loss of appetite
Golden skin, yellow eyes
Dark urine, light discoloration
Stomach pain, joint pain
Effective prevention
Hepatitis B: Can be prevented with vaccines. In addition, practicing safe sex, not using shared injections or personal items, and screening for pregnant women is very important.
Hepatitis C: There is currently no vaccine, so prevention should be done by not using the same needle, ensuring sterile medical equipment and practicing safe sex.
Diagnosis and treatment
HBV: There are anti-viral drugs that help control and prevent complications.
HCV: Can be completely cured thanks to direct-acting viral antibodies (DAA) with a recovery rate of over 95%.
