In collaboration with the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Sciensano houses the National reference centre for hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, which analyses strains of the hepatitis virus. Sciensano also performs epidemiological surveillance on viral forms of hepatitis in Belgium and controls the quality of the vaccines.
Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E
Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E
There is a vaccine against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, but there is no vaccine against hepatitis C. Screening for HBV and HCV is recommended for certain at-risk individuals.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The liver performs vital functions for the body such as:
- processing nutrients from the digestion process
- the detoxification of toxic substances (medicines, alcohol)
- supporting immunity.
Hepatitis is said to be “acute ” if it is recent (less than 6 months) and “chronic ” if it persists for more than 6 months.
There are several types of hepatitis. Certain types of hepatitis are easily cured, whereas others can develop into chronic illnesses with a risk of complications.
What are the different types of hepatitis?
There are 2 categories of hepatitis:
- viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, D, E)
- non-viral hepatitis (“toxic” hepatitis linked to substances that are toxic to the liver such as alcohol and medicines and autoimmune hepatitis).
Viral hepatitis varies according to the virus concerned:
- hepatitis A virus (HAV), the least serious
- hepatitis B virus (HBV), the most common and the most contagious
- hepatitis C virus (HCV), the most insidious
- hepatitis D virus (HDV)
- hepatitis E virus (HEV)
DID YOU KNOW? The hepatitis C virus was only discovered in 1989. Until this discovery, hepatitis C was called “non-A, non-B hepatitis”.
Summary of the types of viral hepatitis
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Hepatitis A (and E) |
Hepatitis B (and D) |
Hepatitis C |
Transmission |
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Symptoms
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Complications |
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Treatment |
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Progression |
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Prevention |
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