Viral Hepatitis

Know the ABCs of Viral Hepatitis

TYPE TRANSMISSION VACCINE AVAILABILITY COMPLICATIONS
A
  • Person to person (fecal-oral)
  • Contaminated food/water
 Available
  • Fulminant hepatitis
  • Relapse
B
  • Sexually
  • Via infected blook & body fluids
  • Contact with contaminated surfaces
  • From mother to child during birth or after
 Available
  • Fulminant hepatitis
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Cirrhosis
  • Liver cancer
C
  • Injecting-drug use
  • Via blood
 Not Available
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Cirrhosis
  • Liver cancer
D
  • Via blood
  • Only in presence of hepatitis B
 Not Available  
E
  • Fecal-oral in developing countries
 Not Available
  • High mortality in pregnant women


Know the risk of hepatitis B


How you can get it

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is hardy and easier to "catch" than you might realize. HBV is found mainly in blood and body fluids. In certain situations, it is up to 100 times more contagious than HIV the virus that causes AIDS. Hepatitis B virus can survive on surfaces for up to 1 month in some instances increasing your chances of infection. There are an estimated 1 to 1.25 million persons with chronic HBV infection in the United States that are infectious to others.


It can make you very sick

Hepatitis B attacks your liver and can make you extremely ill. Some patients even require hospitalization. The disease can lead to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Each year there are up to 150,000 new infections with hepatitis B and about 4,000 people die due to hepatitis B-related chronic liver disease in the United States.


It can be prevented

Protect yourself and your children with hepatitis B vaccination ...preventing chronic hepatitis B infection can reduce the risk of primary liver cancer. Many don't have the hepatitis B protection they need


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:

  • Universal vaccination for all infants
  • Vaccination of all infants, children and adolescents from birth to age 18
  • Vaccination for at-risk adults


Just 3 shots of vaccine provide protection

  • Soreness, swelling and redness at the site of injection are the most common side effects


To find out if hepatitis B vaccination is right for you, contact your doctor