How Can You Protect Yourself From Hepatitis Infection
You can do a few things to protect yourself from hepatitis infection. First, get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B if you are not already immune.
Second, avoid contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person. This includes sexual contact, sharing needles, or exposure to blood during childbirth.
Third, avoid alcohol if you have hepatitis, as it can damage the liver.
Finally, use condoms if you are sexually active to reduce your risk of spreading the virus to others.
Hepatitis is a severe disease that can cause lifelong infection, liver cirrhosis , liver cancer, and death. There are five types of hepatitis â A, B, C, D, and E â each of which has unique symptoms and causes. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how hepatitis is treated, many cases can be treated with medications and lifestyle changes.
The best way to protect yourself from hepatitis infection is to vaccinate against hepatitis A and B if you are not already immune, avoid contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person, and use condoms if you are sexually active.
How Is Hepatitis Transmitted And How Can You Prevent It
There are several ways you can help prevent the spread of hepatitis. Avoid sharing needles or other drug-injection equipment. If you are sexually active, use condoms to protect yourself and your partner. If you have Hepatitis B, get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. And if you have Hepatitis C, talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. These precautions can help prevent the spread of hepatitis and keep you healthy.
Can People With Hep C Be Blood Donors
You are ruled out as a blood donor if you have had hepatitis C, even if you have no symptoms. All blood donations in the U.S. are tested for hepatitis C antibodies, which will indicate whether the person has had HCV in the past. This is essential to prevent the transmission of HCV to the blood recipients.
Read Also: Does Hepatitis C Cause Cirrhosis Of The Liver
Hepatitis Cases In Children
The number of cases of hepatitis in children has increased recently. Public health doctors and scientists are looking into what could be causing this.
See a GP if your child has symptoms of hepatitis, including yellowing of the eyes and skin .
Good hygiene, including supervising hand washing in young children, can help to prevent infections that can cause hepatitis.
Hepatitis How To Recognize Different Types And Treat Them Correctly
This comprehensive article outlines and explains the different types of hepatitis, their symptoms, diagnosis, and possible treatment to help you understand this liver inflammation. Besides the most common hepatitis symptoms, you will also uncover the best prevention methods to ensure that you stay protected against the various hepatitis viruses. By the end of this article, you will gain a deeper insight into hepatitis and know how to treat them properly.
That said, consulting with a specialist is crucial. If you are in the area or looking for the best professionals available, we recommend reaching out to an internal medicine specialist in Hialeah, Florida.
What are the different types of hepatitis? What is hepatitis anyway? Keep reading to find out.
You May Like: How Do You Contact Hepatitis A
Who Do I Need To Tell That I Have Hepatitis C
It is up to you who you tell that you have hepatitis C.
Your health information is confidential. If you dont want to, you do not have to tell your employer, landlord, school, family or friends.
You may want to tell certain friends or family members that you have hepatitis C so they can help or support you if you need it.
When deciding who to tell about your hepatitis C, take your time. Ask yourself these questions:
- Who will try to understand?
- Who will respect my privacy?
- Who will listen to my feelings?
- Who will give me emotional support?
You may also want to think about these questions before you tell someone:
- Where would you feel safe telling them?
- What questions would you feel comfortable answering?
- Do you want someone with you when you tell others, for example, a friend, doctor, nurse, or other healthcare worker?
Remember, there is no rush to tell people you have hepatitis C.
You May Like: Hepatitis C Ab W Reflex Hcv Rna Quant Rt Pcr
Can Hepatitis A Be Prevented
The following will help keep people safe from hepatitis A:
- regular hand washing, especially after going to the bathroom or diapering a baby, and before eating
- washing fruits and vegetables before eating them
- not eating raw shellfish, such as raw oysters
- getting the vaccine for hep A
Getting vaccinated helps a person’s body make antibodies that protect against hepatitis infection. The hepatitis A vaccine is now given to all kids when they’re between 1 and 2 years old, and to people who are traveling to countries where the virus could get into the food and water supply.
Page 2
Don’t Miss: How Do You Get Tested For Hepatitis C
Causes Of Acute Viral Hepatitis
Acute viral hepatitis can be caused by five major hepatitis viruses :
Other viruses can also cause acute viral hepatitis. These viruses include the Epstein-Barr virus , which is the virus that causes infectious mononucleosis Infectious Mononucleosis Epstein-Barr virus causes a number of diseases, including infectious mononucleosis. The virus is spread through kissing. Symptoms vary, but the most common are extreme fatigue, fever, sore throat… read more .
Engaging in certain activities, such as getting a tattoo or body piercing, sharing needles to inject drugs, or having multiple sex partners, increases the risk of developing hepatitis.
Has This Happened Before
Pomegranates have been linked to outbreaks internationally but not in Australia.
Past food-related outbreaks in Australia have occurred in oysters, lettuce, semi-dried tomatoes and frozen berries.
Imported frozen berries from the same producer implicated in the pomegranate associated outbreak were recalled due to linked cases of hepatitis A in 2015 and again in 2017.
These outbreaks led to some questions regarding the screening and regulations of imported food coming into Australia and prompted new regulations by the Department of Agriculture, requiring the producer of imported berries to be declared. The Department of Agriculture and Food Standards Australia New Zealand also issued guidance and recommendations to ensure industry producers are compliant with Australias food standards.
Microbiological screening tests for imported berries currently only involves testing for the intestinal bacterium E.Coli.
You May Like: Can Hepatic Steatosis Be Reversed
Other Body Fluids And Tissues
Synovial fluid , amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, and peritoneal fluid can contain the hepatitis B virus, but the risk of transmission to workers is not known.
Feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine, and vomit have not been implicated in the spread of hepatitis B. Unless they are visibly contaminated with blood, the risk of contracting hepatitis B from these fluids in the workplace is very low.
Hepatitis B is not transmitted by casual contact. For example, hospital employees who have no contact with blood, blood products, or blood-contaminated fluids are at no greater risk than the general public. However, the virus can spread through intimate contact with carriers in a household setting, possibly because of frequent physical contact with small cuts or skin rashes. The virus can also spread through biting and possibly by the sharing of toothbrushes or razors. It is not spread through sneezing, coughing, hand holding, hugging, kissing, breastfeeding, sharing eating utensils, water or food.
Treatment: Chronic Hepatitis B
The goal of treating chronic hepatitis B is to control the virus and keep it from damaging the liver. This begins with regular monitoring for signs of liver disease. Antiviral medications may help, but not everyone can take them or needs to be on medication. Be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of antiviral therapy with your doctor.
Recommended Reading: What Does Non Reactive Mean On A Hepatitis C Test
How Do Doctors Treat Hepatitis A
Treatment includes resting, drinking plenty of liquids, and eating healthy foods to help relieve symptoms. Your doctor may also suggest medicines to help relieve symptoms.
Talk with your doctor before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or other dietary supplements, or complementary or alternative medicinesany of these could damage your liver. You should avoid alcohol until your doctor tells you that you have completely recovered from hepatitis A.
See your doctor regularly to make sure your body has fully recovered. If you have symptoms for longer than 6 months, see your doctor again.
How Do You Get Hepatitis A
The main way you get hepatitis A is when you eat or drink something that has the hep A virus in it. A lot of times this happens in a restaurant. If an infected worker there doesn’t wash their hands well after using the bathroom, and then touches food, they could pass the disease to you.
Food or drinks you buy at the supermarket can sometimes cause the disease, too. The ones most likely to get contaminated are:
You could catch or spread it if you’re taking care of a baby and you don’t wash your hands after changing their diaper. This can happen, for example, at a day care center.
Another way you can get hep A is when you have sex with someone who has it.
Read Also: Hepatitis C How Does It Spread
Who Should Be Tested
Testing for hepatitis A is not routinely recommended.
CDC recommends hepatitis B testing for:
- Men who have sex with men
- People who inject drugs
- Household and sexual contacts of people with hepatitis B
- People requiring immunosuppressive therapy
- People with end-stage renal disease
- People with hepatitis C
- People with elevated ALT levels
- Infants born to HBV-infected mothers
CDC recommends hepatitis C testing for:
- All adults aged 18 years and older
- All pregnant women during each pregnancy
- About 24,900 new infections each year
- About 22,600 new infections in 2018
- Estimated 862,000 people living with hepatitis B
- About 50,300 new infections in 2018
- Estimated 2.4 million people living with hepatitis C
How Can Hepatitis A Spreads Formulate A Scientific
How can hepatitis A spreads, formulate a scientific argument thatyou could use to convince someone that such an outbreak is everyone’s problem?
Image transcription text
There Was Nowhere to Wash My Hands Two cases in November. four in December, one more in January a steadybackground of hepatitis A Infections, almost exclusively among San Diego’s homeless population. Seven new cases inFebruary alerted public health officials that they were on the cusp of an outbreak. Hepatitis A Is easy to prevent: a single vaccination is 90% eective. And. as the virus is spread via the oral-fecal route.simple hand washing is generally enough to stop its spread. Unfortunately. it Is beyond difficult to provide effective healthservices to people who are difficult to track. have myriad other problems intervention is “Being homeless has risks. it is not myproblem If other people get sick.” Given how hepatitis A spreads. formulate a scientific argument thatyou could use to convince someone that such an outbreak is everyone’s problem.
Don’t Miss: Is Hepatitis C And Aids The Same Thing
Hepatitis C: What Happens
About 25% of people who get hepatitis C defeat the virus after a short-term infection. The rest will carry the virus in their body for the long term. Chronic hepatitis C can cause very serious complications, including liver failure and liver cancer. There are effective treatments for the virus, though.
Treatment Of Acute Viral Hepatitis
-
Supportive care
-
Antiviral drugs for acute hepatitis C
For most people with acute viral hepatitis, special treatment is not necessary. However, people with severe acute hepatitis may require hospitalization so that symptoms can be treated. If doctors suspect that fulminant hepatitis is developing, the person is hospitalized so that mental status can be monitored, liver tests can be done, and doctors can determine whether liver transplantation is needed.
After the first several days, appetite usually returns and people do not need to stay in bed. Severe restrictions of diet or activity are unnecessary, and vitamin supplements are not required. Most people can safely return to work after the jaundice clears, even if their liver test results are not quite normal.
People with hepatitis should not drink alcohol until they have fully recovered.
The infected liver may not process drugs normally. So a doctor may need to stop a drug or reduce the dosage of a drug that could accumulate to harmful levels in the body . Thus, people with hepatitis should tell their doctor all the drugs they are taking , so that the dosage of the drug can be adjusted if necessary.
If itching occurs, cholestyramine, taken by mouth, is often effective.
Read Also: Royal Canin Hepatic Diet For Dogs
How Do You Get It
HAV can be present in the stool and blood of someone with the virus. Its mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route, which involves ingesting virus thats present in the stool of someone with hepatitis A.
There are several ways you can get hepatitis A:
- having close person-to-person contact with someone who has hepatitis A, such as:
- taking care of someone whos currently sick
- having sex with someone who has the virus
Hepatitis A: How Does It Spread
It usually spreads through food or water. Food can be tainted when it’s touched by a person with hepatitis who did not wash their hands after using the bathroom. This transfers tiny amounts of infected stool to the food. Raw shellfish, fruits, vegetables, and undercooked foods are common culprits in hepatitis A outbreaks. The virus can also spread in daycare centers if employees aren’t careful about washing hands after changing diapers.
Don’t Miss: Does Planned Parenthood Test For Hepatitis
If I Have Hepatitis How Can I Avoid Giving It To Someone Else
For hepatitis A, one of the best things you can do is wash your hands a lot. That will keep the virus out of food and drinks.
If you have hepatitis B and C, you need to find ways to keep others from making contact with your blood. Follow these tips:
- Cover your cuts or blisters.
- Carefully throw away used bandages, tissues, tampons, and sanitary napkins.
- Don’t share your razor, nail clippers, or toothbrush.
- If your blood gets on objects, clean them with household bleach and water.
- Don’t breastfeed if your nipples are cracked or bleeding.
- Don’t donate blood, organs, or sperm.
- If you inject drugs, don’t share needles or other equipment.
Show Sources
What Is Hepatitis C
In a nutshell, hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver, causing inflammation and scarring of the organ, says K. V. Narayanan Menon, MD, the medical director of liver transplantation at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The liver plays a critical role in your daily functions, carrying out duties that range from filtering your blood to processing nutrients that fuel your body to helping fend off infections. In other words, damage to your liver is serious stuff.
The virus can cause either an acute or chronic disease in people who are infected. The majority of people who get hepatitis C have the chronic condition, says Dr. Menon. It is much less common to have an acute form of hepatitis C. So whats the difference, exactly?
Recommended Reading: Where Does Hepatitis C Come From
How You Can Get Hepatitis B
You can contract hepatitis B by:
- Sharing needles while doing drugs, or being tattooed by a needle that isn’t clean
- Having unprotected sex
- At birth, if the mother has hepatitis B
- Sharing items like razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes with someone who has hepatitis B
You can’t contract hepatitis B from casual contact, including:
- Hugging someone with the virus
- Using the same toilet as someone with the virus
- Being in the same space as someone with the virus
What Are The Benefits Of Dbs Testing
- DBS can be collected wherever the client is, such as a substance use disorder treatment program, homeless shelter, syringe service program, and other community-based organizations. DBS can facilitate access to HCV RNA testing in rural and remote areas.
- Non-clinical staff, including peers, can easily be trained to collect DBS specimens.
- A DBS does not require venipuncture, which is helpful for clients with poor venous access.
- It’s easy to store and transport DBS and, once dried, they are stable at room temperature for up to 15 days.
- DBS can be collected at the same time as the rapid HCV antibody test.
- The use of DBS for laboratory testing is well received by clients.
Also Check: Incubation Period Of Hepatitis B
Diagnosis Of Acute Viral Hepatitis
Doctors suspect acute viral hepatitis based on symptoms. During the physical examination, a doctor presses on the abdomen above the liver, which is tender and somewhat enlarged in about half of the people with acute viral hepatitis.
Doctors suspect fulminant hepatitis if
-
People are very ill and develop jaundice very quickly.
-
Mental function quickly deteriorates.
-
Blood tests to determine how quickly blood clotsâprothrombin time or international normalized ratio âare abnormal.
-
People who have liver disease start worsening rapidly.
How Are Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C Spread From Person To Person
Like HIV, the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses spread:
- From mother to child: Pregnant women can pass these infections to their infants. HIV-HCV coinfection increases the risk of passing on hepatitis C to the baby.
- Sexually: Both viruses can also be transmitted sexually, but HBV is much more likely than HCV to be transmitted sexually. Sexual transmission of HCV is most likely to happen among gay and bisexual men who are living with HIV.
Read Also: Can Your Body Heal Itself From Hepatitis C