FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions):

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a disease of the liver. It causes your liver to swell or become inflamed, in turn, causing it to malfunction.

What causes it?

Hepatitis is caused by a virus.

What are the types of hepatitis?

There are five types of hepatitis: A, B, C, D, and E, and each is caused by a different type of virus.

Hepatitis A is caused by eating food and drinking water infected with the HAV virus. It can also be caused by anal-oral contact during sex. It doe not lead to chronic, or life long, disease and almost everyone who gets hepatitis A has a full recovery.

Hepatitis B is caused by the HBV virus and is spread by contact with an infected person's blood, or other bodily fluids such as semen and saliva, or other body fluid, which includes sexual intercourse, and therefore, can also be classified as a sexually transmitted disease. Hepatitis B can cause liver damage and also lead to liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is caused by the HCV virus, and is spread the same way as hepatitis B. It can also cause liver damage that can lead to liver cancer. Most people who have hepatitis C develop a chronic infection which may lead cirrhosis, which is a scarring of the liver.

Hepatitis D is caused by the HDV virus HDV and can only be contracted by people already infected with Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis E is caused by the HEV virus and is contracted by drinking water infected with the virus and therefore is similar to Hepatitis A.

Can I get Hepatitis from a blood transfusion?

All blood donations are now tested by blood banks for Hepatitis C, which has greatly reduced contracting the virus from blood transfusions and other blood products such as plasma, etc.

What are the symptoms?

Many people with hepatitis have no symptoms of the disease. For other people, the most common signs can include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the area of the liver, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark colored urine and grayish or clay colored bowel movements.

What treatments are available?

For Hepatitis A, there is no treatment. Most people infected with this virus recover within a few weeks. There is also a vaccine to prevent this strain of hepatitis.

Medication is used to treat Hepatitis B. In some instances, hepatitis B can cause the liver to stop functioning after a period of time. If this occurs, the only treatment available is a liver transplant. A Hepatitis B vaccine (which also protects against Hepatitis D) is also available to prevent this strain of disease.

Hepatitis C is most often treated with interferon and other special medications. This strain also can cause the liver to stop functioning and require a liver transplant for survival.

For hepatitis is general, bed rest, eating healthy foods, avoiding alcohol or taking certain medications are the best ways to take care of yourself when you have this disease.

How can hepatitis be prevented?

Hepatitis A can be prevented by washing your hands with soap and water before preparing and eating food, after using the bathroom, and after changing a diaper or by receiving a Hepatitis A vaccination. In the event you come in contact with the virus, an injection of immune globulin can be given as short-term prevention.

Hepatitis B can be prevented by receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine. Don't share personal items such as toothbrushes and razors that might have blood on them, healthcare workers should receive the vaccine and always follow precautions and safety when handling needles and other sharp instruments.

Avoid getting body piercing or tattoos. Infection can be transmitted if the tools used are contaminated with blood of an infected person.

If you are having sex with more than one person, always use latex condoms.

Don't use intravenous drugs, but if you do, never share drugs, syringes, and needles, and make sure you get vaccinated against both Hepatitis A and B.

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine to prevent infection with Hepatitis C virus however; the best protection against Hepatitis C is being vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Hepatitis C is transmitted in the same manner as is Hepatitis B.

Can I donate blood, sperm or organs if I have had hepatitis?

If you have ever been diagnosed with hepatitis, do not donate blood, tissue, or organs.