The ABCs of hepatitis
Have you heard that there are many types of viral hepatitis each with a designated letter? Identified strains include A B C D and E; however often we hear only of the most common types: A B and C. On July 28th join the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness to eliminate this viral disease on World Hepatitis Day (WHD)!
What is it?
Hepatitis is a general term describing inflammation of the liver that can be the result of a number of causes. They include bacteria toxins and heavy alcohol consumption. The focus of WHD is on the viral causes.
Why is the disease such a big deal?
Each type is caused by a different virus and is transmitted differently. In particular strains B and C can be dangerous due to their ability to cause chronic disease without noticeable symptoms until the disease has progressed to cause liver damage. The WHO estimates that the majority of patients affected by Type B (90%) and C (80%) are unaware of their condition. Left untreated types B and C can lead to liver cancer failure or cirrhosis.
What is the difference between A B & C?
A. Type A
o Transmission: It is primarily spread by eating contaminated raw or poorly cooked food drinking unclean water or having contact with the feces of an infected person. It is more commonly acquired when traveling to endemic areas (parts of Africa and Asia).
o Symptoms occur within 1-2 weeks and include fever nausea loss of appetite and abdominal pain.
o Prevention: Practice good hygiene cook foods thoroughly and avoid drinking affected water. Vaccination is available and encouraged before travel. It is also administered to children at 1 year of age.
o Outcomes: Often recovery is possible within a few weeks with supportive care at home. Type A is not frequently associated with being chronic.
B. Type B
o Transmission: It is spread through body fluids including blood and semen by sexual contact needle syringe or razor sharing or mother to baby at birth. The virus can survive 7 days outside of the body and maintains the potential to infect another person.
o Symptoms often begin 3 months after exposure and include: fever nausea vomiting fatigue abdominal pain dark urine joint pain and jaundice.
o Prevention: Vaccines are available. Avoid sharing needles razors or other sharps. Avoid getting tattoos from unlicensed parlors.
o Outcomes: Typically it is an acute illness though it can progress to long-term infection that may result in cirrhosis or liver cancer. The risk of chronic type B decreases with increasing age. Treatment will include supportive care and liver function monitoring; antiviral therapy may also be used.
C. Type C
o Transmission: This blood-borne virus is most often transmitted by sharing needles or equipment for drug injection and to children born to mothers affected by hepatitis C.
o Prevention: Avoid exposure to any used needles razors or other sharps and tattoos from unlicensed parlors.
o You should be tested if you:
- Were born between 1945-1965
- Have ever used injection drugs even if you only injected one time
- Have received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992
- Were treated for a blood clotting disorder prior to 1987
- Are on long-term hemodialysis treatment
- Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease
- Have been diagnosed with HIV
- Are a healthcare worker and were exposed to blood through a needle stick or other sharps that results in blood to blood contact.
o Outcomes: Type C can be acute though for most people the condition becomes long-term and eventually results in significant liver damage failure or cancer. 70-80% of people with acute type C do not have symptoms so many people are unaware they are infected. Often the diagnosis is suspected with elevated liver enzymes on routine blood work. Therapy is available that aims to cure type C and is commonly successful.
For further information visit: (http://worldhepatitisday.org/showyourface) or the CDC information page (https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/index.htm)