Hepatitis is an infection in the liver that is caused by a virus. Hepatitis A, B and C are different in how they are spread, some of their symptoms, and if they are curable or treatable. People infected with hepatitis may have none, some or all of these symptoms:
- fever
- feeling tired
- loss of appetite
- nausea and/or vomiting
- stomach pain
- joint pain
- the skin or the white part of the eyes turn yellow (jaundice)
Although they cause the same type of symptoms, how bad the disease is and how long it lasts is different for everyone. Each of these viruses spreads differently:
- Hepatitis A (Hep A) is spread through fecal-oral route. Risks include oral-anal sex and consuming water/food contaminated with Hepatitis A.
- Hepatitis B (Hep B) is spread through both blood and bodily fluids, such as semen and vaginal fluids.
- Hepatitis C (Hep C) is spread only through direct blood-to-blood contact, or through bodily fluids that contain blood.
There’s a vaccine for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. In Alberta, the Hep B vaccine is offered in Grade 6. There is no vaccine for Hep C but there is treatment available.
About 90% of people with Hep B get better. About 70-80% of people infected with Hep C without treatment go on to develop a chronic or lifetime infection. With both Hep B and C, the chronic infection can lead to a serious liver disease (cirrhosis) or cancer of the liver later in life.
Depending on the type of Hepatitis, you can also reduce your risk of infection by:
- washing your hands after using the toilet and before you prepare or eat food
- practicing safer sex
- not sharing personal objects that may come into contact with blood (e.g., needles, razors, toothbrushes or nail clippers)