What do drugs, alcohol, unprotected sex, tattoos, and body
piercings have in common? They're all things your parents
probably lecture you about avoiding, but here's another
connection - they can all lead to a liver condition called
hepatitis
.
What Is Hepatitis?
The liver is one of the body's powerhouses. It helps process
nutrients and metabolizes medication. The liver also helps clear
the body of toxic waste products.
The word hepatitis (pronounced: heh-puh-
tie
-tus) means an inflammation of the liver, and it can be caused by
one of many things - including a bacterial infection, liver injury
caused by a toxin (poison), and even an attack on the liver by the
body's own immune system.
Although there are several forms of hepatitis, the condition is
usually caused by one of three viruses: hepatitis A, hepatitis B,
or hepatitis C virus.
Some hepatitis viruses can mutate, which means they
can change over time and can be difficult for the body to
fight. In some cases, hepatitis B or C can destroy the liver. The
patient then will need a liver transplant to survive, which is not
always available or successful.
Hepatitis A
The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the feces
(poop) of infected individuals. People usually get hepatitis A by
eating food or drinking water that's been contaminated with
feces. Although that sounds disgusting, hepatitis A is actually
considered to be less destructive than some other hepatitis
viruses. That's because, unlike some other types, it rarely
leads to permanent liver damage.
Within a few weeks, the symptoms will have gone away on their
own and the virus will no longer be in your system. Once someone
has recovered from a hepatitis A infection, that person has
immunity to the virus, meaning he or she will probably never get it
again. People are also protected against hepatitis A if they've
been vaccinated for it.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a more serious infection. It may lead to a
condition called
cirrhosis
(permanent scarring of the liver) or liver cancer, both of which
cause severe illness and even death. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is
transmitted from person to person through blood or other body
fluids.
In the United States, the most common way people get infected
with HBV is through unprotected sex with a person who has the
disease. People who inject drugs (in other words, use a
needle) also are at risk of becoming infected because it's
likely that the needles they use will not have been sterilized. In
fact, up to 1 in every 50 people living in the United States will
become infected with HBV - and the risk of infection is greater
among those who have unprotected sex or inject drugs.
That's scary stuff given that, as yet, there's no
effective cure for hepatitis B. In most cases, a teen who gets
hepatitis B will recover from the disease and may develop a natural
immunity to future hepatitis B infections. But some people will
have the condition forever. Medications can help some people with
hepatitis B get rid of the virus.
Hepatitis C
Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis or liver
cancer. Also like hepatitis B, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is
transmitted from person to person through blood or other body
fluids.
Hepatitis C is the most serious type of hepatitis - it's now
one of the most common reasons for liver transplants in adults.
Every year, thousands of people in the United States die from HCV.
And there's no cure and no vaccine.
An estimated 4.1 million Americans are currently infected with
the virus. The most common way people become infected is through
sharing drug paraphernalia such as needles and straws. People also
get hepatitis C after having unprotected sex with an infected
partner. Before 1990, many people got it through blood
transfusions, but better blood screening and handling procedures
now mean that this rarely happens.
The medications currently used to treat hepatitis C are
effective in controlling the disease in some people. However,
hepatitis C treatments are not very easy to take, especially
because some require frequent injections.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
Hepatitis infection causes inflammation of the liver, which
means that the liver becomes swollen and damaged and begins losing
its ability to function. People with hepatitis often get symptoms
similar to those caused by other virus infections, such as
weakness, tiredness, and nausea. Because the symptoms of hepatitis
are similar to other conditions, it's easy for someone who has
it to confuse it with another illness.
In addition, people with hepatitis A may not show any symptoms,
so the infection can go undiagnosed. People with hepatitis B or C
infection also may not show symptoms right away, but can develop
health problems from the infection many years later. Even when
infected people don't have any symptoms, they can still pass
the disease on to others.
Symptoms of hepatitis include:
- yellowing of the skin and eyes, known as
jaundice
- fever
- nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite
- abdominal pain (on the upper right side)
- light-colored bowel movements
- dark-colored urine
The incubation period (how long it takes between the time
someone becomes infected and symptoms first appear) for hepatitis
varies depending on the type a person has. Somebody may not feel
any different than before, or may notice these symptoms anywhere
from 15 days to 4 months after getting the disease, depending on
the type of hepatitis.
How Is Hepatitis Diagnosed and Treated?
A blood test is usually needed to determine if a person has
hepatitis.
Doctors don't prescribe medications to treat hepatitis A;
they usually recommend resting until any fever and jaundice are
gone and the person's appetite has returned to normal. It is
also important to stay well hydrated by drinking lots of
fluids.
Hepatitis B and C can sometimes be treated with medications,
although some forms of medication used to treat hepatitis C are
only approved for use in adults. Although treatments for hepatitis
B and C are becoming more effective, a cure cannot be
guaranteed.
Protecting Yourself
Vaccines can protect people against hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Today, all kids in the United States are routinely vaccinated
against hepatitis B at birth and against hepatitis A between the
ages of 1 and 2 years.
People who
travel
to certain parts of the world where sanitation isn't very good
also benefit from immunization against hepatitis A. Sometimes, if
someone has been recently exposed to hepatitis A or B, a doctor may
recommend a shot of immune globulin containing antibodies against
the virus to try to prevent the person from coming down with the
disease.
In addition to receiving vaccinations against hepatitis A and B,
here's how to protect yourself against hepatitis virus
infection:
- Avoid unprotected sex, which not only puts you at risk for
hepatitis B and C, but also for many other sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections or
STIs) and pregnancy.
- Avoid intravenous drug use and sharing of drug paraphernalia.
Hepatitis is only one of the life-threatening infections you can
get by sharing contaminated needles.
- Wash your hands before handling food and after using the
bathroom. Washing your hands thoroughly is one of the simplest,
most important ways to prevent the spread of
any
infection, including hepatitis.
- If you're thinking about getting a tattoo or piercing, be
sure the shop sterilizes needles properly. Poorly sterilized or
nonsterile needles put people at risk for hepatitis B or C.
- Don't share toothbrushes or razors. Hepatitis can be
transmitted through sores or cuts.
- Avoid eating raw shellfish (such as clams or oysters). You
could put yourself at risk for hepatitis A if the shellfish was
harvested from contaminated water.
Hepatitis infection can be serious, but knowing what puts you at
risk can help protect you.
Reviewed by:
Joel Klein, MD
Date reviewed: April 2009