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Facts About Hepatitis
B and C
Q: What is hepatitis? Are there different types of hepatitis?
A: Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus, drugs, or
other factors. So far, there are 6 known kinds of viral hepatitis: A, B, C, D, E,
and G. They differ in how they are transmitted as well as how long and how severely
they can affect you. For example, hepatitis A and E, milder forms, are spread through
contaminated foods or water, while hepatitis B, C, and D, more serious forms, are
spread through contact with human blood or by sexual activity (primarily B). Hepatitis
B and C have the greatest potential to damage your liver in the long term. There
is a vaccine for the prevention of hepatitis B, but not for hepatitis C.
Q: How do I know if I have hepatitis B or C?
A: Many people don’t notice anything wrong with them—they
look and feel healthy. In fact, you can have hepatitis B or C for
many years before you even know you have the virus. But by then,
your liver may already be damaged. Sometimes, people feel like they
have the "flu"—tired, feverish, weak, achy, sick to their
stomach, and not hungry. Also, some people might have jaundice (yellowing
of the skin and eyes). Your doctor may order blood tests to see
if you have a mild or severe form of hepatitis. The tests see how
well your liver is functioning and may test for the virus itself
or for antibodies (proteins your body makes to fight the virus)
that have built up in the blood. Check with your doctor to determine
how frequently these tests should be repeated.
Q: How do you "catch" hepatitis B or C?
A: Both are definitely spread through contact with human
blood, and perhaps through contact with other body fluids. Close
to 40% of people with hepatitis C never learn how they were infected.1
You are at high risk for hepatitis B or C if you:
- Had a blood transfusion before
1975 (for hepatitis B) or 1992 (for hepatitis C)
- Have been a hemodialysis patient
- Had a job that exposed you to
human blood
- Have been in contact with the
blood of someone who has hepatitis B or C
- Have ever injected or snorted
drugs using shared paraphernalia
- Had sex with someone with hepatitis
B*
- Have tattoos or body piercing
*The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) has identified sexual activity as a potential risk factor
for transmission of hepatitis C. The risk does appear to increase
in people who have more than one sexual partner.
Q: Are hepatitis B and C common?
A: Both are very common. There are about 1.2 million people
in the U.S. with hepatitis B and about 4.8 million people (1.8%
of the U.S. population) with hepatitis C.2 More than 8 out of 10
people with hepatitis C will develop a chronic infection.3
Q: What is the difference between acute and chronic hepatitis
B and C?
A: Both can be either acute (short term, less than 6 months)
or chronic (long term, more than 6 months) infections. Hepatitis
B usually is not chronic. With an acute infection, your body tries
to fight the virus, and if it succeeds in eliminating the virus
from your system, most of the injured part of the liver returns
to normal. But with chronic hepatitis C, your body fails to fight
off the virus in a 6-month period and the virus stays in your system.
It can either be inactive for a while or keep damaging your liver
as time goes on.
Q: Why is liver damage dangerous?
A: You can’t live without a liver. Your liver works in many
important ways: it keeps poisons (including alcohol and drugs) from
harming your body; it makes necessary body chemicals (fats, proteins,
cholesterol); and it performs many other roles to keep you healthy.
A damaged liver can’t handle all these tasks very well, which can
have serious consequences. Hepatitis C can lead to permanent liver
damage that may require a liver transplant. In the US, almost a
third of all liver transplants were needed due to chronic hepatitis
C.4
Q: Do I have to get treated?
A: If you think you might have hepatitis or that you’ve
been in contact with an infected person or a contaminated object,
see your doctor, a gastroenterologist (a digestive system specialist),
or hepatologist (a liver specialist) right away. If you do have
chronic hepatitis B or C and do not get medical treatment, you increase
the risk of developing life-threatening liver damage (cirrhosis,
liver cancer, or liver failure).
Q: How can I protect myself from getting hepatitis B or C?
- Never share
needles or personal items such as razors, toothbrushes, nail files,
and clippers—anything that can hold blood
- If you must get a manicure or
body piercing, be sure sterile instruments are used
- If you have multiple partners,
use a latex condom
- It’s better not to get tattoos.
The needle and possibly the injected ink both transmit the disease
- There is no need to worry about
contact with things like hair brushes, combs, or eating utensils
For more information, call toll-free hotlines:
1-800-GO-LIVER (465-4837) or 1-888-4HEP-ABC (443-7222)
REFERENCES:
- Detection
and Referral: The PCP Guide to Chronic Viral Hepatitis. Data
on file, Schering Corporation 1996:6.
- Horstman
J. Hepatitis C: an unsolved mystery. Harvard Health Letter.
Feb 1996; 21(4).
- American
Liver Foundation. Getting hip to hep: what you should know about
heptitis A, B, & C. 1996:2.
- Horstman
J. Hepatitis C: an unsolved mystery. Harvard Health Letter.
Feb. 1996; 21(4).
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