Inflammation of the liver is called hepatitis which is caused by viruses that can develop to serious health conditions. The virus comes from different types such as A, B, C, D, E, and G.
The viral hepatitis types that are most common are hepatitis A, B, and C. They are all infectious.
Hepatitis A
Humans are the only source of Hepatitis A virus and have the only reservoir for the infection. Infection happens through contact with feces of an individual infected with the virus either directly such as sexual intercourse or person to person, or indirectly through water and food intake coming from sources contaminated with the virus. The infection could also be transferred from blood products. Most people recover from the infection on their own. There is no medication for hepatitis A. Vaccination is the only preventive weapon against it.
Hepatitis B
Contamination:
- Sharing of personal things with an infected person such as drug paraphernalia, toothbrushes, needles, razors, and nail clippers.
- Contact with contaminated organs and blood.
- Infected mother to her baby during childbirth.
Symptoms:
- Many infected people, even those with serious cases do not show any symptoms.
- Jaundice
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Dark urine
Preventive measures:
- Avoid sharing of personal items that might have blood contamination such as nail clippers, toothbrushes, needles, and razors.
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- Safe sex practices
Hepatitis C
Contamination:
- Infection can be transmitted through sharing personal things with an infected individual such as razors, needles, toothbrushes, and nail clippers.
- Direct contact with blood products and blood.
- Can be passed through sexual contact although it is not very common
- Passed by an infected mother to baby during childbirth.
Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Most cases of Hepatitis C do not show any symptoms
- Dark urine
- Could sometimes have jaundice
- Abdominal pain
- Feelings of uneasiness
- Loss of appetite
Preventive measures:
Personal items that can possibly acquire contaminated blood should never be shared with an infected person such as needles, toothbrushes, nail clippers, and razors.
Hepatitis D
Contamination:
- Although found mostly in adults, there is still a possibility of an infected mother passing on the infection to the baby during childbirth
- Almost always found in developing countries
- Most often passed through contaminated food or water
- Passed through fecal-oral route where an infected stool is ingested through food prepared from unwashed hands
Symptoms:
- 90% of Hepatitis E infected children do not show any symptoms
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- Feelings of uneasiness
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
Preventive measures:
- Be extra vigilant when on a travel to developing countries
- Hands should be washed properly before preparing food or before and after eating
Hepatitis G
Symptoms:
No symptoms have been reported for this infection.
Contamination:
- Sexual intercourse can pass the infection
- Often teams up with other infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B
- May be passed from an infected mother to baby during birth
- Sharing of personal things that gets contaminated with the virus
- Passed through infected blood products and blood
Preventive measures:
- Safe sex practices
Do not share personal things.