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 Just For The Health of It
Last Updated: Monday, October 08, 2007


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Hepatitis BASICS


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Viral hepatitis is a disease that attacks the liver.

     There are three main types -- hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C (which is also called "non-A, non-B hepatitis").

     Hepatitis A infection is usually brief and causes no long-term problems -- only one patient in 1,000 dies.

     On the other had, hepatitis B and hepatitis C can lead to serious illness -- chronic (lifelong) infection, cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.

     Unfortunately, there is no cure for hepatitis A, B, or C -- so the best way to deal with all three is to prevent them.

     This brochure will answer your questions about who's at risk for viral hepatitis, how it's transmitted, symptoms to watch for -- and, most important, how it can be prevented.

 

Q HOW DO YOU GET
HEPATITIS A?
A It's transmitted through human feces ("stool") -- i.e., in food or water that's been contaminated with feces.
 
Q HOW IS IT SPREAD?
A To get hepatitis A, you must put something into your mouth (e.g., unwashed hands, utensils, food, water) that's been contaminated with the virus (i.e., feces).

   ■Food can become contaminated with feces when people do not wash their hands with soap and warm water after having a bowel movement or changing diapers.
    Raw foods such as fruits and vegetables pose the greatest risk because cooking (heat) kills the virus.  But -- cooked foods can spread the disease if they're touched by contaminated hands after cooking.
   ■Water and shellfish can become contaminated if they're exposed to sewage -- which is one reason why you should not eat raw seafood.
   ■Toddlers  who are infected can spread the virus during play and through other close contact.  This is because they often forget to wash their hands after a bowel movement.
   ■Parents and caregivers  who change diapers -- and who forget to wash their hands -- can also spread the virus.
   ■People who travel to developing countries (including Mexico)  where hepatitis A is common can bring this disease home with them.
 
Q WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
A Symptoms of hepatitis A -- which show up two to six weeks after you are infected -- include fever, a sudden lack of energy, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain.
    This is often followed by yellowish skin and eyes, dark urine, and clay-colored stools.
    Although most adults have symptoms, most kids under age five have no symptoms.
    Mild cases last from one to two weeks; more severe cases last from four to six weeks.
    Hepatitis A, which you can only get once in your life, causes no long-term damage and is rarely fatal.
 
Q WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO HEPATITIS A?
A If you learn that you've had close contact with a person who has hepatitis A,  or that you've eaten food prepared by someone who has hepatitis A, call your doctor and/or health department right away.
    Getting an immune globulin (IG) shot can decrease your chances of getting the disease. (Note: Pregnant women and nursing mothers can be given this shot.)

Q HOW DO YOU GET HEPATITIS B?
A It's transmitted through the blood, semen, or vaginal fluids of an infected person.

Q HOW IS IT SPREAD?
A Hepatitis B is spread primarily through sexual contact and sharing blood-contaminated drug-injection equipments.
● Also, it can be spread through very tiny amounts of infected blood on needles, other items used to pierce the skin (e.g., ear piercing, tattooing), or personal hygiene items (e.g., razors, toothbrushes).
● An infected mother can give this virus to her baby at birth.  Pregnant women should have their blood tested to see if they are infected.  If they are, their babies must be given hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B vaccine shots within 12 hours of birth.
● Health-care workers who are exposed to blood and body fluids can get hepatitis B from their patients.
 
Q WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
A Symptoms of hepatitis B -- which show up between six weeks and six months after you get the virus -- include lack of appetite, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, joint pain, and skin rash.
    This is often followed by yellowish skin and eyes, and dark urine.
    Many people have no symptoms at all.
 
Q WHAT ARE HEPATITIS B "CARRIERS"?
A About 10% of people who get hepatitis B never fully recover; they become "carriers" -- which means that they carry the virus in their blood for the rest of their lives.
    Although carriers look and feel fine, they can give hepatitis B to others without knowing it.
    One-in-four carriers will come down with liver disease.
 
Q WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO HEPATITIS B?
A If you have not gotten the hepatitis B vaccine (a series of three shots), you should start the vaccine series now and receive a hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) shot to prevent infection.
    People who get the disease need a blood test to determine whether their infection is acute (short-term) or chronic (lifelong), and whether they are a carrier.  They also need to be watched for liver disease.

Q WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
A The symptoms are simliar to those for hepatitis B.
Q HOW IS IT SPREAD?
A Hepatitis C is most commonly spread by sharing blood-contaminated drug-injection equipments.
    Other people at risk include those who have ever received a blood transfusion (especially before May 1990); hemodialysis patients; and health-care workers who are exposed to blood.
   
   
      Many people have no  
  symptoms at all.
    Most people become "carriers" of hepatitis C and can give the disease to others without knowing it.

   HEPATITIS A    HEPATITIS B
● Wash your hands and fingernails with soap and warm water (wash for 30 seconds) after going to the toilet or changing diapers.
● Do not share food,  drinks, or eating utensils with people who do not wash their hands after going to the toilet or changing diapers.
● Wash your hands before touching food, drinks, and utensils -- so you won't spread it to others if you are infected.
● Do not eat raw shellfish.
● If a case of hepatitis A occurs in your home, child-care facility, school, or business, contact your local health department and notify the people who had close contact with the infected person, so they can get an immune globulin shot and medical advice.
● If you think you have been exposed to hepatitis A, call your doctor or health department right away and ask about an immune globulin shot.
   
● If you're planning a trip to a developing country (including Mexico), talk to your public health clinic or a travel clinic about the hepatitis A vaccine or an immune globulin shot.
    While traveling, do not accept food that's been touched by other people unless you know they've just washed their hands.

IF YOU HAVE (OR HAVE EVER HAD) HEPATITIS B OR C
   ■Do not donate blood,  plasma, body organs, or sperm.  (This also applies if you've had hepatitis A).
   ■Do not share toothbrushes, razors, or other items that could become contaminated with blood.
   ■Cover open sores and other breaks in your skin.
   ■Wear a latex condom during sex.  Inform potential sexual partners about your disease, and make sure that they -- and everyone in your family -- is vaccinated against hepatitis B.
● If you are a health-care worker, get your series of hepatitis B vaccinations.
● Make sure your child receives hepatitis B immunizations.
● Do not have sex with someone who's infected (o0nly a blood test can tell) -- or use a condom.
● Do not share any drug-injection equipment.
   HEPATITIS C
● Follow the above advice.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.


Blood transfusion risk

In the U.S., the risk of getting hepatitis B through a blood transfusion is about 1 in 200,000.
    The risk of getting hepatitis C is between 1 in 2,000 and 1 in 6,000.
    Blood banks are required to test all blood for hepatitis B and C, but the risk cannot be eliminated entirely.

DONATE BLOOD YOURSELF

Ask your doctor and local blood bank about the feasibility of donating blood to yourself in the four weeks before your scheduled surgery.
    Your blood can be stored for 35 days and saved for your personal use.
 

 
 

Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Washington State Department of Health; Puget Sound Blood Center, Seattle; Seattle-King County Department of Public Health

 


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