People who are at risk of being infected with hepatitis B or C include health care workers, people with multiple sex partners, intravenous drug users, and hemophiliacs. Anyone who has had a tattoo, body piercing, or a blood transfusion (prior to routine screening of donated blood that began in 1972 for hepatitis B and 1990 for hepatitis C) and those who are in close household contact with an infected person are also at higher risk of being infected. Hepatitis B or C can even be transmitted by sharing toothbrushes or nail files contaminated with infected blood- although these forms of transmission rarely occur.
Infants born to HBV-infected mothers can contract the virus in up to 90% of cases, but HCV is only rarely spread from mother to baby at the time of delivery. However, approximately one third or more of hepatitis A, B, and C cases result from unknown sources. This means that you do not necessarily have to be among the "high risk" groups to become infected with these viruses.
Hepatitis A, B, &C; How Viral Hepatitis Is Transmitted
"A" for Awareness A Quiet Killer
"B" Informed Testing 1...2...3...
"C" the Facts Prevention is Your Best Bet
Cause for Concern? Don't Stop Here
