Hepatitis

• A person can carry hepatitis in their body for up to six months without experiencing any symptoms.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis; most don’t know they’re infected.
• According to the CDC, hepatitis B is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV and can be passed through sexual intercourse.

Although anyone can contract hepatitis, some people are at greater risk, such as those who:

• Have sexual contact with an infected person
• Have multiple sex partners
• Have a sexually transmitted disease
• Are men who have sexual encounters with other men
• Inject drugs or share needles, syringes, or other injection equipment
• Live with a person who has hepatitis
• Are on hemodialysis
• Are exposed to blood on the job
• Are infants born to infected mothers

Although hepatitis A is contagious, people usually improve without treatment. Hepatitis A develops as an acute (short-term) illness only. It does not become a chronic (long-term) illness.

Hepatitis A is transmitted through the following routes:

• Sex with an infected person (especially oral-anal contact).
• When an infected person doesn’t wash their hands after using the bathroom and touches food or other objects.
• When a caregiver doesn’t wash their hands after changing a diaper or cleaning up an infected person’s stool.
• Contaminated food or water.

Immunizations are available to prevent hepatitis A. Contact your doctor or the Florida Department of Health in Flagler County about getting tested and/or vaccinated.

Hepatitis B is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from an infected person comes into contact with a non-infected person. This can happen through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person, sharing needles or syringes, or getting tattoos or body piercings. Hepatitis B can also be passed from an infected mother to her newborn during birth.

Hepatitis B can be either acute (short term) or chronic (long term). Acute hepatitis B virus infections occurs within the first six months after someone is exposed to the virus. Acute infection can, but does not always, lead to chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis B occurs when the virus remains in a person’s body, which can cause long-term health problems and even death.

Prevention

The best way to prevent contracting HBV is to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the hepatitis B immunization for:

• All infants
• All children and adolescents younger than 19 who have not been vaccinated
• Adults 19–59
• Adults 60 and older with risk factors for hepatitis B

Contact your healthcare provider or the Florida Department of Health in Flagler County for more information on prevention, testing and vaccinations.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus that typically produces no symptoms. Over the years, hepatitis C can lead to severe liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Most people get infected with hepatitis C by sharing needles, syringes, or other paraphernalia used for injection drug use. You can also get infected by sharing razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, or personal medical equipment like glucose monitors. While uncommon, hepatitis C can spread during sex. Most reported cases of transmission have been among men who have sex with men.

Although there is no immunization to prevent hepatitis C, there have been substantial strides in hepatitis C treatment in the past few years. Talk with your health care provider or contact the Florida Department of Health in Flagler County at 386-437-7350 about screening for hepatitis C and treatment options.