Hepatitis is a serious liver disease that’s more common than most people realize. Worldwide, millions of people suffer from hepatitis infections, and while it’s not as common in the United States as in many other areas of the world, about 3 million people may be infected.
As leading primary care providers for patients in San Pedro, California, the team at Harbor Community Health Centers wants patients to understand hepatitis and to take steps to prevent this potentially serious liver disease.
July 28 is World Hepatitis Day, so we provide a brief overview of three common types of hepatitis and the steps you can take to prevent them.
There are five primary types of hepatitis, which are designated by the letters A, B, C, D, and E. Types A, B, and C are the most common in the United States. Type D only occurs in people infected with type B, and type E occurs almost exclusively in underdeveloped countries.
Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated food or water or by contact with bodily fluids through sex or other close contact.
While most hepatitis A infections can be treated with medical therapy and lifestyle changes, some infections can be difficult to treat, leading to serious illness and even life-threatening complications.
Hepatitis B is a serious type of hepatitis infection that significantly increases your risks of chronic liver disease and liver cancer. Like hepatitis A, hepatitis B is transmitted via bodily fluids, like blood, semen, or saliva.
People diagnosed with hepatitis B will need to take prolonged courses of antiviral medications and receive supportive care to protect their liver and maintain liver function.
This is the most common type of hepatitis infection in the US, affecting between 2.5-4.7 million Americans. Hepatitis C is typically transmitted through contact with infected blood. Pregnant moms can pass the infection to their unborn babies, as well.
Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C increases your risk of serious liver disease, including liver cancer. While there’s no vaccine for hepatitis C, it can be successfully treated with antiviral medications as long as it’s diagnosed early.
While hepatitis can be treated with antiviral medications, many people don’t know they have an infection until they begin to experience problems with their liver function. By that time, permanent liver damage may have occurred, and while medication may be able to eradicate the infection, scarring or other damage lingers, and some people may end up with lifelong liver disease or liver failure.
Fortunately, there are vaccines for both hepatitis A and hepatitis B that can help prevent infections and protect your liver. In fact, the CDC recommends both vaccines for most kids and adults.
Specifically, the hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for:
It’s also recommended for adults without risk factors for infection who want to prevent hepatitis A infection.
Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for:
Like the hepatitis A vaccine, the hepatitis B vaccine is also recommended for adults over age 60 who want to increase protection against the disease.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Because the disease is so common and can have life-threatening consequences, the CDC recommends hepatitis C screening for all adults age 18 and older and all pregnant women during each pregnancy. People in high-risk groups may need to be screened more frequently.
Your liver is a “chemical factory,” producing the substances your body needs to function normally and stay healthy. A hepatitis infection can permanently damage your liver and take a toll on your overall health, as well.
Vaccinations and health screenings are two simple things you can do to keep your liver healthy. To learn more or to schedule a vaccination or screening, call 310-547-0202 today to schedule an appointment with the Harbor Community Health Centers team at one of our two locations in San Pedro, California.
