Hepatitis A vs B vs C: What Is the Difference and Which One Should You Worry About?

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Pipat Finn, M.D., Senior Doctor, Doctor Pattaya. Last reviewed: August 2026

You had a great few days in Pattaya. Maybe a beach dinner in Jomtien, a couple of tattoos on Walking Street, some nights out. Now you are back at the hotel Googling "hepatitis" because something someone said has you wondering whether you need to worry. That is a fair question, and the answer depends entirely on which type we are talking about.

Hepatitis A, B, and C are not interchangeable. They spread in different ways, affect your liver differently, and need very different responses. Some patients at Doctor Pattaya need a vaccine, some need a blood test, and some need both. Here is what actually matters, without the textbook version.

Hepatitis A, B, and C at a Glance

Hepatitis A: The One Tourists Pick Up From Food

Most travellers who come in worried about hepatitis have hepatitis A on their mind, and honestly, they are right to think about it. It spreads through contaminated food and water. Street food, ice, unpeeled fruit, and shared plates all carry some risk here.

The good news is that hepatitis A almost never becomes a long-term problem. Your immune system clears it, usually within a few weeks, and once you have had it, you are immune for life. You might feel rough, you might go yellow, but your liver recovers fully in the vast majority of cases.

Symptoms usually appear two to four weeks after exposure. You feel tired, lose your appetite, and may notice your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellow. Most people need nothing beyond rest, fluids, and time.

Hepatitis B: The Most Common Serious Liver Infection in Thailand

This is the one we spend the most time discussing with patients here. Thailand has a chronic hepatitis B prevalence estimated at around five to six percent of the general population, which is considerably higher than most Western countries.

Hepatitis B spreads through blood and body fluids. Unprotected sex, shared needles, tattoo equipment that has not been properly sterilised, and procedures with unsterilised tools can all transmit it. It is roughly 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV through sexual contact.

Here is the part that catches people off guard. Most adults who pick up hepatitis B have no symptoms at all in the early weeks. Around 90 to 95 percent of healthy adults clear the virus within six months. But in the remaining cases it becomes chronic, staying in the liver indefinitely and raising the risk of serious liver damage over time.

If you have never been vaccinated and you are living in or visiting Pattaya, this is the hepatitis type that warrants the most attention.

Hepatitis C: The One That Hides

Hepatitis C is what we sometimes call a silent infection. Most people who have it have no idea. There are often no symptoms in the early months, and sometimes for years after that. By the time liver damage shows up on a scan, it can already be significant.

Hepatitis C spreads almost exclusively through blood-to-blood contact. Shared needles carry the highest risk, but tattoo equipment and piercings done with unsterilised tools are a real concern too. Sexual transmission is less common than with hepatitis B, but it does happen.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The important thing to know is that it can now be cured. Modern antiviral tablets, taken for eight to twelve weeks, cure over 90 percent of cases. A positive diagnosis is not a life sentence. The catch is that you have to know you have it, which means getting tested if you have had any relevant exposure.

Why the Difference Between Hepatitis A, B, and C Matters More in Pattaya

A lot of the standard advice about hepatitis is written for a general audience. Here is the version that actually applies to Pattaya.

Thailand’s hepatitis B rates are among the higher figures in Southeast Asia. Unprotected sex in Pattaya carries a real hepatitis B risk, more so than many tourists expect. The CDC recommends hepatitis B vaccination for all unvaccinated travellers to Thailand before arrival, regardless of the reason for travel.

Tattoos and piercings are another consistent source of hepatitis B and C concerns in our clinic. Most studios here use sterile equipment, but not all of them do. If you got inked or pierced and you are not sure about the hygiene standards, come in and we can work out whether testing makes sense for your timeline.

Food and water risks for hepatitis A are real in Pattaya too, particularly with uncooked seafood and ice from unknown sources. Vaccination covers this completely, and it is worth having even if you are already mid-trip.

Hepatitis B and C: Why You May Not Know You Are Infected

A person carrying hepatitis B or C can feel completely fine. No fatigue, no jaundice, no pain. They can pass the virus to others without knowing they have it, and they can be doing quiet damage to their own liver at the same time.

Hepatitis C in particular can sit silently for decades. People are often only diagnosed when a routine blood test picks up liver abnormalities, sometimes when the damage is already advanced. This is why testing matters even when you feel well.

If you have had unprotected sex in Pattaya, shared any equipment that could carry blood, or had a tattoo or piercing you are uncertain about, a blood test is the only way to know where you stand. You can learn more about what a full STD and hepatitis panel covers on our STD treatment and testing page.

Getting Tested: What Each Blood Test Checks

When you come into Doctor Pattaya for hepatitis screening, we run specific tests for each type. They are not interchangeable.

For hepatitis A, we check for an antibody called IgM anti-HAV, which appears early in an active infection. For hepatitis B, we check the hepatitis B surface antigen, which tells us whether the virus is currently in your system. A liver function panel is often run alongside this to see how your liver is coping.

For hepatitis C, we start with an antibody test. If that comes back positive, we follow up with an RNA test to confirm whether the virus is active. The RNA test can detect the virus within one to two weeks of exposure in most cases, while the antibody test takes up to 12 weeks to become reliably positive.

Window periods matter. A negative result taken very soon after an exposure does not guarantee you are clear. We will always tell you when to retest based on your specific exposure date.

Vaccination: What Is Available and Who Needs It

Hepatitis A and B both have safe, highly effective vaccines. Hepatitis C does not.

The hepatitis A vaccine is given as two doses, typically six to twelve months apart. One dose gives solid early protection and is worth having even mid-trip. The hepatitis B vaccine is usually given in three doses over six months, but an accelerated schedule with doses at day zero, day seven, and day twenty-one is available for travellers who cannot wait. A booster at twelve months completes that course.

The Twinrix combination vaccine covers both hepatitis A and B in one injection, which most of our patients find more practical. If you are an expat who has been living in Pattaya for years and never caught up on vaccinations, adult catch-up works well. It is not too late.

Warning Signs That Mean You Should See a Doctor Today

Most hepatitis infections, particularly hepatitis A and early hepatitis B, can be managed without emergency care. But some symptoms need a same-day assessment.

Come in immediately if your skin or the whites of your eyes are turning yellow, especially alongside nausea or pain in the upper right side of your abdomen. Persistent vomiting, confusion, or a swollen abdomen alongside jaundice can all indicate serious liver stress and should not be waited out overnight.

Doctor Pattaya is open 24 hours a day with no appointment needed. If you are not sure whether what you are feeling is serious, walk in and let us check. We are based in South Pattaya and do hotel visits across Jomtien, Naklua, and Pratumnak if you cannot make it to us.