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Hepatitis means the inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis means inflammation of the liver caused by a virus.
There are 5 types of viral hepatitis but the most common ones are:
Hepatitis A virus is transmitted when something contaminated with feces of a person infected with hepatitis A is brought to the mouth of an uninfected person. This type of transmission is called "fecal-oral." Casual contact does not transmit the virus.
The viruses that cause hepatitis B and C are transmitted through the body fluids of an infected person to an uninfected person. For instance, HBV and HCV are transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person, by sharing needles or syringes, by a needle stick at work, or during labor when the virus is transmitted from an infected mother to her baby.
The symptoms of hepatitis A, B, and C in the acute phase (when they are recently acquired) are the same. The symptoms could include:
For some people, hepatitis B or C becomes a long-term disease, called chronic hepatitis. Other people recover from the infection and do not have long-term problems.
Chronic hepatitis can lead to hepatic cirrhosis; the liver cells die and, the liver stops working and cannot eliminate the products and body waste. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure (the liver stops working) and liver cancer.
There are specific lab tests to diagnose hepatitis, so a blood sample is needed.
Hepatitis is treated with antiviral medications. Both medications in Truvada® (emtricitabina and tenofovir) are active against HBV and help to reduce the amount of hepatitis B virus in blood.
People that have chronic hepatitis must:
The best way to prevent hepatitis B or C is avoid sharing syringes and having unprotected sex. There is also a vaccine to prevent hepatitis B that provides 15 years protection. The vaccine is applied in three doses. If you miss a dose, do not re-start the treatment. Instead, continue with the next dose.
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