Millions Have A Hepatitis Symptom and
Don't Know it Until It's Too Late!

Hepatitis symptoms can be confussing because of all the different types of infetions including A, B, C, D and E?

This is what makes hepatitis so deadly - it slowly destroys your liver without you knowing it until it is too late.

The liver is a very important organ. It helps your body with these functions:

• Digests food

• Stores energy

• Removes poisons

What are the signs of viral Hepatitis?

Some people with viral Hepatitis will not have a Hepatitis symptom or sign of the infection.

For other people, a Hepatitis symptom might be:

• Low grade fever

• Headache

• Muscle aches

• Tiredness

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Dark-colored urine and pale bowel movements

• Pain in the stomach

• Skin and whites of the eyes turning yellow, also called jaundice

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Hepatitis D
• Hepatitis E

Test For Hepatitis

To find out if you have any one of the hepatitis viruses, you'll need to get a hepatitis blood test.

Just note that, since the Hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common in the U.S.A. these blood tests are widely available.

A little know service has evolved from the internet allowing the public to legally have direct access the same labs that doctors use.

In less than 10 minutes you can have your blood drawn with:

• No previous M.D. or clinic visit required

• No previous prescription needed

• No appointment necessary

It is great and simple and very convenient way to test for hepatits A, B and C. You can also test for 4 other STD's in a STD pannel test.

Just so you remain aware - Syphilis, Hepatitis B, and HIV are among the most common STD’s in the United States.

Most people infected have no symptoms and are not aware they are infected until serious complications appear.

Without testing, individuals go untreated, often passing along their infections.

With a panel test you can test for all 5 STD'S: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HIV, Hepatitis , Syphillis. Or you can test just for individual diseases.

The choice is yours - regardless if you have1 or 5 tests. It takes minutes to do and you will get your results in 24-96 hrs depending on the test choose .

You can order your test through Health Direct who offer over 400 blood tests through a state certified blood lab - remember this service allows you to by pass the doctors office and deal directly with the a state certified blood lab.

But this should not mean that you can avoid a doctors visit - if you have any test result questions you should go directly to you doctor!

Hepatitis A

How do you get Hepatitis A?
Eating food or drinking water contaminated with feces, or the bowel movement (BM), from a person infected with the Hepatitis A virus (HAV).

It can also be caused by anal-oral contact.

Some examples include:

• Eating food contaminated by a person with Hepatitis A who prepares food

• From infected household members or sexual partners

• Diaper changing tables, if not cleaned properly

• Eating raw selfish that came from sewage-contaminated water

What are Treatment Options for Hepatitis A It usually gets better on its own. Almost everyone who gets Hepatitis A gets better.

• Travelers to areas with high rates of Hepatitis A

• Men who have sex with men

• Injecting and non-injecting drug users

• Persons with clotting factor disorders, like hemophilia

• People with chronic liver disease

• Children who live in areas that had historically high rates of Hepatitis A from 1987-1997

• Get an immune globulin (IG) shot for short-term protection

If you’re traveling to a place where Hepatitis A is common and leaving in less than 4 weeks, an IG shot can temporarily keep you from getting the virus. An IG shot can also be given within 2 weeks after exposure to Hepatitis A. Again, remember these guidelines

• Be careful about drinking the tap water when traveling internationally

• Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, changing a diaper, and before preparing and eating food

• People who get Hepatitis A once will not get it again

Hepatitis B

How do you get Hepatitis B?
Contact with a person infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). This can occur through having sex with an infected person, from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth, or through sharing needles with an infected person.

What does Hepatitis B do to your body?
A Hepatitis symptom would be a liver that swells that can result in liver damage.

Most people will get rid of the virus after a few months and not have a reoccuring Hepatitis symptom. Some people are not able to get rid of the virus, which makes the infection chronic, or life-long with a reoccuring Hepatitis symptom.

This may lead to a scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis, liver failure, and can also lead to liver cancer. Note, cirrhosis and liver cancer are a late stage Hepatitis symptom.


What are Treatment Options for Hepatitis B
Acute Hepatitis B usually gets better on its own. Most people develop immunity to the virus and after recovery, can’t give it to others.

Someone with chronic (long-term) Hepatitis B still carries the virus and can pass it to others. Chronic Hepatitis B can be treated with the drugs interferon, lamivudine, or adefovir. These drugs do not work for everyone but can control a Hepatitis symptom or Hepatitis symptoms.


What Steps You can Take for Prevention of Hepatitis B

• All girls and boys from 0 to 18 years old

• A person whose sex partner has chronic Hepatitis B

• Men who have sex with men

• Someone who has been recently diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease

• People with multiple sex partners

• Someone who shoots drugs

• Someone who lives with a person with chronic Hepatitis B

• People whose jobs expose them to human blood

• If you are having sex, but not with one steady partner, use latex condoms correctly and every time you have sex. Using condoms may lower your risk of getting Hepatitis B

• Don't share anything that could have an infected person's blood on it, like toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, or washcloths

• Consider the risks if you are thinking about getting a tattoo or body piercing. You might get infected if the tools have someone else's blood on them or if the artist or piercer does not follow good health practices.

• If you are a health care or public safety worker, get vaccinated against Hepatitis B, and always follow routine barrier precautions and safely handle needles and other sharp objects

• People with Hepatitis B should not donate blood, organs, or tissue

• Do not shoot drugs. If you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program. If you can't stop, never share drugs, needles, syringes, water, or "works," and get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B.

• If exposed to Hepatitis B, get a Hepatitis B immune globulin injection within 14 days following exposure, and begin the Hepatitis B vaccine series

• If you are pregnant, get a blood test for Hepatitis B. Infants born to infected mothers should be given Hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccine within 12 hours after birth.

• If you have chronic Hepatitis B, make sure your babies get all of their Hepatitis B shots with the last shot at 6 months of age

Hepatitis C

• Do not shoot drugs (If you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program. If you can't stop, never share drugs, needles, syringes, water, or "works," and get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B

• Don't share personal items like toothbrushes, razors, or nail clippers

• Get vaccinated against Hepatitis A if your liver is damaged and Hepatitis B if you are in a group at increased risk of getting Hepatitis B

• Limit sexual partners and use latex condoms every time you have sex

• Cover your cuts and open sores

Hepatitis D

• Get Hepatitis B vaccine

• Do not shoot drugs (If you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program. If you can't stop, never share drugs, needles, syringes, water, or "works," and get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B)

• Don't share personal items like toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers with someone who has the virus

• Use latex condoms every time you have sex

• Get Hepatitis B vaccine

• Do not shoot drugs (If you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program. If you can't stop, never share drugs, needles, syringes, water, or "works," and get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B)

• Don't share personal items like toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers with someone who has the virus

• Use latex condoms every time you have sex

Hepatitis E

Frequently Asked Questions

Acute Viral Hepatitis vs. Chronic Viral Hepatitis
What’s the difference between acute viral Hepatitis and chronic viral Hepatitis?

Acute viral Hepatitis is a short-term, viral infection where a Hepatitis symptom will not reoccur.

Chronic viral Hepatitis is a longer-lasting, and generally life-long, viral infection lasting at least six months. In this case a Hepatitis symptom will reoccur.

To find out if you have acute or chronic viral Hepatitis, your doctor will do a medical evaluation to identify if a Hepatitis symptom is present - this will include a blood tests.

How is Viral Hepatitis Diagnosed?
Through blood tests and a medical evaluation. There are different blood tests, depending on the type of viral Hepatitis that the doctor thinks you have. A key factor is if a Hepatitis symptom is present.

Is it safe to visit someone with Hepatitis?
It is safe to visit someone with viral Hepatitis with a visible Hepatitis symptom. You cannot get Hepatitis through casual contact.

It is ok to shake hands with, hug, or kiss someone who is infected with any of the viral Hepatitis types.

How does a pregnant woman pass Hepatitis B virus to her baby?
During the birth, blood from the mother gets inside the baby’s body. A very small number of babies get infected and have a Hepatitis symptom while the infected mother is pregnant. There is no treatment to prevent this from happening.

Can I breastfeed my baby if I have Hepatitis B?
Yes, you can.

Make sure your baby gets a shot called H-BIG and a shot of Hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours of birth.

Take good care of your nipple areas to prevent cracking and bleeding. If your nipples are cracking or bleeding, avoid nursing your baby on that breast until the sores heal. Until they heal, you can pump your milk to keep up your milk supply. But you should discard this pumped milk.

If I have Hepatitis B, what does my baby need so that she doesn't get the virus?

Make sure your baby gets all three Hepatitis B shots plus H-BIG.

If you are a mother with Hepatitis B, follow this schedule for your baby: ·

• At birth: Hepatitis B vaccine and H-BIG ·

• 1 to 2 months old: Hepatitis B vaccine

• 6 months old: Hepatitis B vaccine (not before 24 weeks, but no later than six months)

These shots will fight off the virus, and they are safe for your baby. If your baby gets those shots, there is a much lower chance your baby will get Hepatitis B.

A few months after your baby gets all of these shots, the doctor should do blood tests to see if your baby has the virus or if your baby is protected from HBV infection.

Doctors will also examine the baby for a Hepatitis symptom. If your baby does not get these shots, the baby has a very high chance of getting Hepatitis B and developing serious liver disease.

How long do the Hepatitis A and B vaccines protect you?

Only 1 series of the Hepatitis A vaccine (2 shots) and Hepatitis B vaccine (3 shots) is needed during a person's lifetime. However, some people may need a booster. For example, people with compromised immune systems, like hemodialysis patients, would need a booster.

Talk to your doctor for more information. For More Information about a Hepatitis symptom or about any of the Hepatitis viruses.

Contact the National Women's Health Information Center at (800) 994-9662 or the following organizations:

Do you have a Hepatitis symptom question? Call a Hepatitis Support Hotline

This article was adapted from http://www.4woman.gov/faq/Hepatitis.htm

 

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