World Hepatitis Day (28 July)

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can be prevented with a vaccine. People who get hepatitis A may feel sick for a few weeks to several months but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage. In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death; this is more common in older people and in people with other serious health issues, such as chronic liver disease.

How is hepatitis A spread?

The hepatitis A virus is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. The hepatitis A virus is spread when someone ingests the virus, usually through person-to-person contact. Hepatitis A can be spread from close, personal contact with an infected person, such as through having sex, caring for someone who is ill, or using drugs with others. Hepatitis A is very contagious, and people can even spread the virus before they feel sick. Contamination of food with the hepatitis A virus can happen at any point: growing, harvesting, processing, handling, and even after cooking. Contamination of food and water happens more often in countries where hepatitis A is common.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A.

The hepatitis A vaccine is safe and effective. The vaccine series usually consists of 2 shots, given 6 months apart. Getting both shots provides the best protection against hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for:

  • All children aged 12–23 months
  • All children and adolescents 2–18 years of age who have not previously received hepatitis A vaccine (known as “catch up” vaccination)
  • People at increased risk for hepatitis A
  • International travellers
  • Men who have sex with men
  • People who use or inject drugs (all those who use illegal drugs)
  • People with occupational risk for exposure
  • People at increased risk for severe disease from hepatitis A infection
  • People with chronic liver disease, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C
  • People with HIV
  • Pregnant women at risk for hepatitis A or risk for severe outcome from hepatitis A infection

Handwashing plays an important role in prevention.

Practicing good hand hygiene—including thoroughly washing hands with soap and warm water after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food—plays an important role in preventing the spread of many illnesses, including hepatitis A.

Symptoms

Not everyone with hepatitis A has symptoms. Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children. If symptoms develop, they usually appear 2 to 7 weeks after infection and can include:

  • Yellow skin or eyes
  • Not wanting to eat
  • Upset stomach
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach pain
  • Dark urine or light-coloured stools
  • Diarrhoea
  • Joint pain
  • Feeling tired

Symptoms usually last less than 2 months, although some people can be ill for as long as 6 months.

Diagnosis and treatment

A doctor can determine if you have hepatitis A by discussing your symptoms and taking a blood sample. To treat the symptoms of hepatitis A, doctors usually recommend rest, adequate nutrition, and fluids. Some people will need medical care in a hospital.

Hepatitis B can be a serious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis B virus.

Acute Hepatitis B refers to a short-term infection that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is infected with the virus. The infection can range in severity from a mild illness with few or no symptoms to a serious condition requiring hospitalization. Some people, especially adults, recover from the virus without treatment. People who have recovered from the virus become immune and cannot get infected with the Hepatitis B virus again.

Chronic Hepatitis B refers to a lifelong infection with the Hepatitis B virus. Over time, chronic Hepatitis B can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.

How is Hepatitis B spread?

The Hepatitis B virus is spread when body fluids from an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected. The virus can be spread through:

  • Sex with an infected person.
  • Sharing needles, syringes, and any other equipment to inject drugs with someone infected with Hepatitis B
  • Poor infection control has resulted in outbreaks of Hepatitis B in healthcare settings
  • Hepatitis B can be passed from an infected mother to her baby at birth.

Hepatitis B is not spread through breastfeeding, sharing eating utensils, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing.
Unlike some forms of hepatitis, Hepatitis B is also not spread by contaminated food or water.

Symptoms

Many people with Hepatitis B do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur, they can include:

  • Fever
  • feeling tired
  • not wanting to eat
  • upset stomach
  • vomiting
  • dark urine
  • grey-coloured stool
  • joint pain
  • yellow skin and eyes.

When do symptoms occur?

If symptoms occur with an acute infection, they usually appear within 3 months of exposure and can last up to 6 months. If symptoms occur with chronic Hepatitis B, they can take years to develop and can be a sign of advanced liver disease.

How would you know if you have Hepatitis B?

The only way to know if you have Hepatitis B is to get tested. Blood tests can determine if a person has been infected and cleared the virus, is currently infected, or has never been infected.

How is Hepatitis B treated?

For those with acute Hepatitis B, doctors usually recommend rest, adequate nutrition, fluids, and close medical monitoring. Some people may need to be hospitalized. People living with chronic Hepatitis B should be evaluated for liver problems and monitored on a regular basis. Treatments are available that can slow down or prevent the effects of liver disease.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis B.

The Hepatitis B vaccine is typically given as a series of 3 shots over a period of 6 months. The entire series is needed for long-term protection. Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for:

  • All infants are routinely vaccinated for Hepatitis B at birth,
  • people living with someone infected with Hepatitis B,
  • Healthcare and public safety workers exposed to blood.
  • People with high-risk sexual behaviours, people who inject drugs, and
  • people who have certain medical conditions, including diabetes, should talk to their doctor about getting vaccinated.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. When someone is first infected with the hepatitis C virus, they can have a very mild illness with few or no symptoms or a serious condition requiring hospitalization. For reasons that are not known, less than half of people who get hepatitis C are able to clear, or get rid of, the virus without treatment in the first 6 months after infection. Most people who get infected will develop a chronic, or lifelong, infection. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can cause serious health problems including liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death.

How is hepatitis C spread?

The hepatitis C virus is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from an infected person. This can happen through:

  • By sharing needles, syringes, or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs, including tattoos needles and equipment
  • Birth.
  • Healthcare exposures - Although uncommon, people can become infected when healthcare professionals do not follow the proper steps needed to prevent the spread of bloodborne infections.
  • Sex with an infected person.
  • Sharing personal items such as sharing glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and other items that may have come into contact with infected blood, even in amounts too small to see.
  • Blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Symptoms

Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur, they can include:

  • yellow skin or eyes
  • not wanting to eat
  • upset stomach
  • Vomiting
  • stomach pain
  • fever
  • dark urine
  • light-coloured stool
  • joint pain
  • and feeling tired.

If symptoms occur with a new infection, they usually appear within 2 to 12 weeks, but can take up to 6 months to develop. People with chronic hepatitis C can live for years without symptoms or feeling sick. When symptoms appear with chronic hepatitis C, they often are a sign of advanced liver disease.

Hepatitis C can be cured.

Getting tested for hepatitis C is important to find out if you are infected and get lifesaving treatment. Treatments are available that can cure most people with hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks.

Hepatitis C can be prevented.

Although there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, there are ways to reduce the risk of becoming infected.

  • Avoid sharing or reusing needles, syringes or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs, steroids, hormones, or other substances.
  • Do not use personal items that may have come into contact with an infected person’s blood, even in amounts too small to see, such as glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes.
  • Do not get tattoos or body piercings from an unlicensed facility or in an informal setting.

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis
https://www.worldhepatitisday.org