Hepatitis A

The Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a common infection in many parts of the world. It is possible to become infected through eating or drinking contaminated food or water. There is a vaccine for Hepatitis A.

How it's spread:

The Hepatitis A virus is found in feces. It can be passed on if even a tiny amount of feces from a person with hepatitis A comes into contact with another person's mouth. This means the virus can also be passed on sexually through practices such as oral-anal contact. Personal hygiene, with careful hand washing, can minimize the risk of the virus being passed.

Symptoms may include:

• A short, mild, flu-like illness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale feces)
• Itchy skin
• People may have no symptoms at all, but they can still pass on the hepatitis virus to others.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A. Rest is recommended during the acute phase of the disease when the symptoms are most severe. People with acute Hepatitis should avoid alcohol and any substances that are toxic to the liver, including acetominophen (Tylenol).

Prevention

There’s an effective Hepatitis A vaccine and Hepatitis A and B combo vaccine. Hepatitis A can be transmitted by small particles of infected stool entering your mouth through anal contact and rimming. Using dams, and washing your hands after sex with an infected person, can help reduce the risk. It can also be passed on through using utensils handled by and infected person, or by eating infected food or drinking infected water.

Click on the following link for a list of Hepatitis programs.

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Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that can cause chronic infection, cirrhosis (scarring), and cancer of the liver. The virus is present in blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. Individuals are encouraged to take all three doses of the vaccine to protect themselves against infection.

How it's spread:

Hepatitis B is transmitted through unprotected anal, vaginal, and oral sex with an infected person; through contaminated needles or syringes; or from an infected mother to her new born during childbirth or breast-feeding. Hepatitis B is not transmitted through such causal contact as hugging, shaking hands, sharing food, using the same eating utensils, drinking from the same glass, sitting on public toilets, or touching door knobs.

Symptoms may include:

• Flu-like feelings that don’t go away
• Jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale feces)
• People may have no symptoms at all, but they can still pass on the hepatitis virus to others

Treatment

Acute Hepatitis B usually goes away by itself and does not require medical treatment. If very severe, symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea may require treatment to restore fluids and electrolytes.

Prevention

There’s an effective Hepatitis B vaccine, and a Hepatitis A and B combo vaccine. Hepatitis B is transmitted by infected blood or semen entering your bloodstream thought activities like unprotected anal sex, sharing infected injecting equipment, toothbrushes or razors, oral sex, and tattooing and body piercing with unsterilized equipment.

Click on the following link for a list of Hepatitis programs.

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Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by an infection with a virus. The liver gets inflamed and swollen and stops working as it should. Hepatitis C is a serious disease because the liver is needed to remove poisons that build up in the blood. Hepatitis C can destroy the liver and cause cirrhosis. It is the main cause of liver transplants in the world.

How it's spread:

• By sharing contaminated needles or other drug-using equipment. If you have ever shared drug-using equipment, you may want to be tested for Hepatitis C
• By using non-sterilized equipment for tattooing, acupuncture or body piercing
• By unprotected sex with someone who is infected when blood is present. Also, if you have sex with an infected woman who is on her period, or if you have sex with someone who is infected and who has sores on their genitals that may bleed. Sexual transmission is not a common way of becoming infected with Hepatitis C when blood is not present.
• On rare occasions, from an infected mother to her baby, mainly during delivery. The risk may be greater if the mother is also infected with HIV

Symptoms may include:

• A short, mild, flu-like illness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale feces)
• Itchy skin
• People may have no symptoms at all, but they can still pass on the hepatitis virus to others

Treatment

Initial treatment of Hepatitis C will depend on whether the infection is in an early (acute) stage or whether it has progressed (chronic).

Treatment of short-term (acute) hepatitis: Acute Hepatitis C may not be treated because symptoms are usually mild or absent, and Hepatitis C is therefore often not diagnosed. By the time HCV is detected in most people, it has already progressed to long-term (chronic) infection. However, when acute Hepatitis C is identified and treated with medications (such as interferon), the development of progressive, chronic infection may be prevented.

Prevention

The spread of Hepatitis C can be prevented. The most efficient method of transmitting Hepatitis C is through injection of contaminated blood, as might happen during IV drug use. Never share objects such as needles, razors, toothbrushes, nail files, and clippers, which can be a potential source of Hepatitis C transmission. When getting a manicure, tattoo, or body piercing, make sure sterile instruments are used and that the institution is licensed.

Click on the following link for a list of Hepatitis programs.

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