Hepatitis
(Hepa=Liver / Titis=Inflamation)
What is
hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a group
of viruses. There are five major types of viral hepatitis:
HAV, HBV and HCV are the most common types of viral hepatitis found in the United States.
How does someone get hepatitis?
The hepatitis A virus can enter a person's body when he or she eats or drinks something contaminated with the stool or blood of someone who has the disease. Symptoms usually appear suddenly, but are not followed by the chronic problems that the hepatitis B and C viruses can cause. The hepatitis B and C viruses can infect a person if his or her mucous membranes or blood are exposed to an infected person's blood, saliva, semen, or vaginal secretions. Symptoms appear more gradually than in hepatitis A. Unlike hepatitis A, the hepatitis B and C viruses can stay in the body--sometimes for a lifetime--and eventually cause chronic, serious liver diseases.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis?
When hepatitis viruses damage liver cells, scar tissue is formed and those cells can no longer function. With fewer healthy liver cells, the body begins to show symptoms ranging from mild (such as fatigue) to more severe symptoms (such as mental confusion).
What are the complications of hepatitis?
Although many cases of hepatitis are not a serious threat to health, the disease can sometimes become chronic (long-lasting) and may lead to liver failure and death. In many cases, though, viral hepatitis is a self-resolving illness.
Is hepatitis sexual transmitted?
Sexual activity poses a different level of risk for each type of viral
hepatitis, but is most closely associated with HBV. Blood transfusions,
IV needle sharing and organ transplants may also pose a risk for transmission.
Is there a way to prevent infection with hepatitis?
Hepatitis A and B are preventable
through vaccination, though no vaccination currently exists for hepatitis
C or E. Since hepatitis D only infects persons with active hepatitis B,
the vaccine for hepatitis B prevents hepatitis D. For more information,
see specific HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV sections.
More
Information on Hepatitis and other STD's
For additional questions about this or any other STD's and other diseases,
CDC (Centers for Disease Control) provides several toll-free hotlines
for public use. The hotlines provide referrals and more answers to your
questions. Be sure to request free printed information when you call the
hotlines.
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CDC National STD and AIDS Hotlines:
1-800-342-2437 or 1-800-227-8922. The hotlines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For Spanish call 1-800-344-7432, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. eastern standard time, seven days a week. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-243-7889, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. eastern standard time, Monday through Friday. -
CDC National Immunization Information Hotline:
English 1-800-232-2522 Spanish 1-800-232-0233 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. eastern standard time. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-243-7889. Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. eastern standard time. -
CDC Public Response Hotline (CPR):
English 1-888-246-2675 span 1-888-246-2857 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing 1-866-874-2646 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday.
