What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is spread mainly through eating or drinking water that has been contaminated by the faeces of an infected person. It can also be caught by eating raw shellfish that have come from water contaminated by sewage. 

There is a vaccination for hepatitis A, and treatment within a few weeks of exposure to the virus can also bring short term immunity. 

You can reduce the risk of exposure to the virus by having good hygiene, sanitation and by avoiding drinking water that has come from a potentially unsafe source. 

Hepatitis A only causes acute hepatitis, so the body is often able to clear the infection itself within a few weeks. However, infections can sometimes cause further complications if not treated efficiently. 

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Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. It can be passed on from mother to child during childbirth.

There is a vaccination that can prevent infection. If you have not been vaccinated, to reduce chances of exposure it is best to use safe contraception such as condoms, and avoid sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors with an infected person. 

There are a variety of medicines and antiviral drugs that are available, which can slow the replication of the virus and may result in its clearance. 

Children born to mothers infected should be vaccinated within 12 hours of birth, to prevent it progressing to chronic hepatitis B. 

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is mainly spread through blood-to-blood contact. In rare cases it can be transmitted through certain sexual practices and during childbirth.

There is no vaccination for hepatitis C. Reduce exposure by avoiding sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors with an infected person.

Treatment for hepatitis C aims to eradicate the virus, and involves a combination of selected medicins and drugs. However, different people can respond differently to treatments, and results may vary. 

Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D is spread through contact with infected blood.

Hepatitis D is only found in people who are already infected with the hepatitis B virus. People not already infected with hepatitis B, should get the hepatitis B vaccination.

Unfortunately, there is no effective antiviral therapy currently available for hepatitis D. 

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Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is spread mainly through eating or drinking water that has been contaminated by the faeces of an infected person. It can also be caught by eating raw shellfish that have come from water contaminated by sewage. 

There is no vaccination to help prevent hepatitis E, but you can reduce the risk of exposure to the virus by having good hygiene, sanitation and by avoiding drinking water that has come from a potentially unsafe source. 

There is no treatment for hepatitis E, however it is usually self-limiting.

World Hepatitis Day

In 2010, the World Health Organisation (WHO) made World Hepatitis Day one of only 4 official disease-specific world health days, to be celebrated each year on July 28th. Millions of people across the world now take part in World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, and to call for access to treatment, better prevention programs and government action. 

Find out more about World Hepatitis Day, here.