Alcoholic Hepatitis vs. Hepatitis C: Key Differences in Cause, Treatment, and Prognosis

Both conditions inflame and scar the liver, but they differ fundamentally:

Feature	Alcoholic Hepatitis	Hepatitis C
Cause	Chronic heavy alcohol use	Hepatitis C virus (HCV), blood‑borne
Transmission	Not infectious	Blood exposure (needles, transfusions pre‑1992, etc.)
Key Treatment	Abstinence, nutrition, corticosteroids in severe cases	Direct‑acting antivirals (DAAs) – >95% cure rates
Progression	Can reverse with sustained sobriety	Often chronic; leads to cirrhosis, HCC if untreated

Overlap exists (alcohol accelerates HCV fibrosis). Accurate diagnosis via history, serology, and imaging guides therapy.