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Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Most often, viruses cause hepatitis. There are five main hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. Though all cause acute hepatitis, they spread in different ways. Some can turn into chronic hepatitis and lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.
Viruses A, B, and C are the most common.
Virus |
Transmission |
Prevention |
Hepatitis A |
Eating food or drinking water contaminated with feces of an infected person |
Yes |
Hepatitis B |
Through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person (e.g., blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal fluid) |
Yes |
Blood-to-blood contact from sharing needles with an infected person (e.g., injection drug use, tattoos, or body piercings) |
No |
|
Hepatitis D |
Through contact with infected blood and only found in people who are already infected with the hepatitis B virus |
Yes, D can be prevented with the B vaccine |
Hepatitis E |
Eating raw shellfish from sewage-contaminated water or through eating food or drinking water contaminated with feces of an infected person |
Yes*
|
*The hepatitis E vaccine is not widely available. Schedule an appointment with Baylor St. Luke's Medical Group to receive it.
Unfortunately, many people with hepatitis don’t have symptoms. According to the Hepatitis Foundation, an estimated 4.4 million Americans are living with hepatitis, and most don’t know they are infected or how they got infected.
With hepatitis C cases on the rise, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends hepatitis C screening for high-risk people. Additionally, if you were born between 1945 and 1965, a one-time screening is recommended. Schedule your screenings and vaccinations with your Baylor St. Luke's Medical Group primary care physician.
Sources:
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