A nurse is teaching a client who has hepatitis B and C. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

Hepatitis B and C are hepatotropic viral infections transmitted primarily through blood and body fluids. They can progress from acute infection to chronic hepatitis, hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and eventually cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma due to persistent viral replication and immune-mediated hepatocyte injury. Rationale: A. Hepatitis B and C do not present with symptoms similar to thyroid storm, which is characterized by severe thyrotoxicosis, hypermetabolism, and adrenergic overactivity. Viral hepatitis instead causes fatigue, jaundice, hepatomegaly, and elevated liver enzymes. B. Hepatitis B and C transmission is primarily through blood exposure, sexual contact, and perinatal routes. Genetic family history does not increase susceptibility, as the condition is infectious rather than inherited. C. Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C leads to persistent hepatic inflammation, progressive fibrosis, and eventual cirrhosis. Long-term viral activity increases risk for liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma due to ongoing hepatocyte injury and regeneration. D. The incubation period for hepatitis B is typically 45 to 160 days and for hepatitis C is 2 weeks to 6 months. A 5-day incubation period is inconsistent with the known viral latency periods of hepatitis infections.