Hepatitis Information

Have had a few requests for information about Hepatitis, so here we go:

Hepatitis A is spread by food, contaminated water, oral-anal contact, and saliva. Symptoms include weakness, jaundice, headache, fever, cramps and loss of appetite. There is no treatment or cure, best prevention is vaccination if you are traveling.

Hepatitis B is spread by contact with blood, semen, vaginal secretions or saliva from an infected person, and dirty needles. It can also spread from a mother to newborn baby during birth. Hep B may lead to serious illness, cirrhosis, cancer, and death. There is a vaccine but no treatment or cure. Recommend rest and good nutrition.

Hepatitis C is the most serious chronic infection that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. Hep C is seldom spread by sex but by blood-to-blood contact. This may be by shooting up with dirty needles, nosebleed from snorting drugs, blood transfusion, body piercing and tattooing.

There are two other types of Hepatitis rarely mentioned – Hepatitis D, which is a co-infection that can be transferred with the Hep B virus and is even more catastrophic; and Hepatitis E, which is transferred usually through drinking water and is not common in North America. For more information check on-line at the CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL – www.cdc.gov
Source: Centers for Disease Control