Viral Hepatitis

Viral Hepatitis is a contagious virus causing inflammation in the liver. There are three types of Hepatitis.

Hepatitis A

Exposure: Exposure to feces of someone who has Hep A. Poor handwashing allows Hep A to be transmitted through contaminated food and water.

Persons at Risk:

  • Travelers where there are high rates of Hep A

  • People who have sexual contact with someone who has Hep A

  • Household members or caregivers exposed to someone with Hep A

  • Men who have sex with men

  • People who use illegal drugs (both injection and non-injection drugs)

Signs and Symptoms:

  • Fever

  • Fatigue

  • Loss of Appetite

  • Nausea and Vomiting

  • Abdominal Pain

  • Gray-colored Bowel Movements

  • Joint Pain

  • Jaundice

Chronic Infection: No potential for chronic infection.

Treatment: No medications available. Only medications to manage symptoms.

Vaccination Recommendation: Yes. Contact your local health department or provider for information.

Hepatitis B

Exposure: Contact with blood, semen, and vaginal fluids of someone with Hep B.

Persons at Risk:

  • People who share works or needles used for injecting drugs, tattooing or piercing

  • People who have sexual contact with someone who has Hep B

  • Household contacts of someone who has Hep B

  • Babies born to mothers who are Hep B positive

  • People exposed to the blood of someone who has Hep B

Signs and Symptoms:

  • Fever

  • Fatigue

  • Loss of Appetite

  • Nausea and Vomiting

  • Abdominal Pain

  • Gray-colored Bowel Movements

  • Joint Pain

  • Jaundice

Chronic Infection: Those unvaccinated are at a greater risk for chronic infection. This includes 90% of infants, 25-50% of age 1-5 children, and 6-10% of older children and adults.

Treatment: Medications to manage symptoms. Antiviral medications may be used.

Vaccination Recommendation: Yes. Contact your local health department or provider for information.

Hepatitis C

Exposure: Exposure to the blood of someone who has Hep C.

Persons at Risk:

  • People who currently or formerly inject drugs

  • People who received blood transfusions or donated organs before July 1992

  • People with exposure to Hep C like healthcare workers

  • People living with HIV infection

  • Infants born to mothers who are Hep C positive

Signs and Symptoms:

  • Fever

  • Fatigue

  • Loss of Appetite

  • Nausea and Vomiting

  • Abdominal Pain

  • Gray-colored Bowel Movements

  • Joint Pain

  • Jaundice

Chronic Infection: 75-85% of newly infected persons develop chronic Hep C

Treatment: Short-term Hep C infections have antiviral treatment. Long-term Hep C infections have direct acting antiviral medications.

Vaccination Recommendation: No