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Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. |
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Several different viruses cause viral hepatitis. They are named the hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses. All of these viruses cause acute, or short-term, viral hepatitis. The hepatitis B, C, and D viruses can also cause chronic hepatitis, in which the infection is prolonged, sometimes lifelong. Other viruses may also cause hepatitis, but they have yet to be discovered and they are obviously rare causes of the disease. Symptoms of Viral HepatitisSymptoms include - jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- fatigue
- abdominal pain
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- low grade fever
- headache
However, some people do not have symptoms. Hepatitis ADisease SpreadPrimarily through food or water contaminated by feces from an infected person. Rarely, it spreads through contact with infected blood. People at RiskInternational travelers; people living in areas where hepatitis A outbreaks are common; people who live with or have sex with an infected person; and, during outbreaks, day care children and employees, men who have sex with men, and injection drug users. PreventionThe hepatitis A vaccine; also, avoiding tap water when traveling internationally and practicing good hygiene and sanitation. TreatmentHepatitis A usually resolves on its own over several weeks. Hepatitis BDisease SpreadThrough contact with infected blood, through sex with an infected person, and from mother to child during childbirth. People at RiskPeople who have sex with an infected person, men who have sex with men, injection drug users, children of immigrants from disease-endemic areas, infants born to infected mothers, people who live with an infected person, health care workers, hemodialysis patients, people who received a transfusion of blood or blood products before July 1992 or clotting factors made before 1987, and international travelers. PreventionThe hepatitis B vaccine. TreatmentFor chronic hepatitis B: drug treatment with alpha interferon, peginterferon, lamivudine, or adefovir dipivoxil. Acute hepatitis B usually resolves on its own. Very severe cases can be treated with lamivudine. Hepatitis CDisease SpreadPrimarily through contact with infected blood; less commonly, through sexual contact and childbirth. People at RiskInjection drug users, people who have sex with an infected person, people who have multiple sex partners, health care workers, infants born to infected women, hemodialysis patients, and people who received a transfusion of blood or blood products before July 1992 or clotting factors made before 1987. PreventionThere is no vaccine for hepatitis C; the only way to prevent the disease is to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. This means avoiding behaviors like sharing drug needles or sharing personal items like toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers with an infected person. TreatmentChronic hepatitis C: drug treatment with peginterferon alone or combination treatment with peginterferon and the drug ribavirin. Acute hepatitis C: treatment is recommended if it does not resolve within 2 to 3 months. Hepatitis DDisease SpreadThrough contact with infected blood. This disease occurs only in people who are already infected with hepatitis B. People at RiskAnyone infected with hepatitis B: Injection drug users who have hepatitis B have the highest risk. People who have hepatitis B are also at risk if they have sex with a person infected with hepatitis D or if they live with an infected person. Also at risk are people who received a transfusion of blood or blood products before July 1992 or clotting factors made before 1987. PreventionImmunization against hepatitis B for those not already infected; also, avoiding exposure to infected blood, contaminated needles, and an infected person's personal items (toothbrush, razor, nail clippers). TreatmentChronic hepatitis D: drug treatment with alpha interferon. Hepatitis EDisease SpreadThrough food or water contaminated by feces from an infected person. This disease is uncommon in the United States. People at RiskInternational travelers; people living in areas where hepatitis E outbreaks are common; and people who live or have sex with an infected person. PreventionThere is no vaccine for hepatitis E; the only way to prevent the disease is to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. This means avoiding tap water when traveling internationally and practicing good hygiene and sanitation. TreatmentHepatitis E usually resolves on its own over several weeks to months. Other Causes of Viral HepatitisSome cases of viral hepatitis cannot be attributed to the hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E viruses. This is called non A-E hepatitis. Scientists continue to study the causes of non A-E hepatitis. | 
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Several different viruses cause viral hepatitis. They are named the hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses.
All of these viruses cause acute, or short-term, viral hepatitis. The hepatitis B, C, and D viruses can also cause chronic hepatitis, in which the infection is prolonged, sometimes lifelong.
Other viruses may also cause hepatitis, but they have yet to be discovered and they are obviously rare causes of the disease.
Symptoms of Viral Hepatitis
Symptoms include
However, some people do not have symptoms.
Hepatitis A
Disease Spread
Primarily through food or water contaminated by feces from an infected person. Rarely, it spreads through contact with infected blood.
People at Risk
International travelers; people living in areas where hepatitis A outbreaks are common; people who live with or have sex with an infected person; and, during outbreaks, day care children and employees, men who have sex with men, and injection drug users.
Prevention
The hepatitis A vaccine; also, avoiding tap water when traveling internationally and practicing good hygiene and sanitation.
Treatment
Hepatitis A usually resolves on its own over several weeks.
Hepatitis B
Disease Spread
Through contact with infected blood, through sex with an infected person, and from mother to child during childbirth.
People at Risk
People who have sex with an infected person, men who have sex with men, injection drug users, children of immigrants from disease-endemic areas, infants born to infected mothers, people who live with an infected person, health care workers, hemodialysis patients, people who received a transfusion of blood or blood products before July 1992 or clotting factors made before 1987, and international travelers.
Prevention
The hepatitis B vaccine.
Treatment
For chronic hepatitis B: drug treatment with alpha interferon, peginterferon, lamivudine, or adefovir dipivoxil.
Acute hepatitis B usually resolves on its own. Very severe cases can be treated with lamivudine.
Hepatitis C
Disease Spread
Primarily through contact with infected blood; less commonly, through sexual contact and childbirth.
People at Risk
Injection drug users, people who have sex with an infected person, people who have multiple sex partners, health care workers, infants born to infected women, hemodialysis patients, and people who received a transfusion of blood or blood products before July 1992 or clotting factors made before 1987.
Prevention
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C; the only way to prevent the disease is to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. This means avoiding behaviors like sharing drug needles or sharing personal items like toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers with an infected person.
Treatment
Chronic hepatitis C: drug treatment with peginterferon alone or combination treatment with peginterferon and the drug ribavirin.
Acute hepatitis C: treatment is recommended if it does not resolve within 2 to 3 months.
Hepatitis D
Disease Spread
Through contact with infected blood. This disease occurs only in people who are already infected with hepatitis B.
People at Risk
Anyone infected with hepatitis B: Injection drug users who have hepatitis B have the highest risk. People who have hepatitis B are also at risk if they have sex with a person infected with hepatitis D or if they live with an infected person. Also at risk are people who received a transfusion of blood or blood products before July 1992 or clotting factors made before 1987.
Prevention
Immunization against hepatitis B for those not already infected; also, avoiding exposure to infected blood, contaminated needles, and an infected person's personal items (toothbrush, razor, nail clippers).
Treatment
Chronic hepatitis D: drug treatment with alpha interferon.
Hepatitis E
Disease Spread
Through food or water contaminated by feces from an infected person. This disease is uncommon in the United States.
People at Risk
International travelers; people living in areas where hepatitis E outbreaks are common; and people who live or have sex with an infected person.
Prevention
There is no vaccine for hepatitis E; the only way to prevent the disease is to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. This means avoiding tap water when traveling internationally and practicing good hygiene and sanitation.
Treatment
Hepatitis E usually resolves on its own over several weeks to months.
Other Causes of Viral Hepatitis
Some cases of viral hepatitis cannot be attributed to the hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E viruses. This is called non A-E hepatitis. Scientists continue to study the causes of non A-E hepatitis.