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Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that infects liver cells and causes inflammation. The inflammation can affect how your liver works and cause other signs and symptoms of hepatitis A.
The virus most commonly spreads when you eat or drink something contaminated with fecal matter, even just tiny amounts. It does not spread through sneezing or coughing. Unlike other types of viral hepatitis, hepatitis A does not cause long-term liver damage, and it doesn't become chronic. In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause a sudden loss of liver function, especially in older adults or people with chronic liver diseases. Acute liver failure requires a stay in the hospital for monitoring and treatment.
Some people with acute liver failure may need a liver transplant. The hepatitis A vaccine can prevent infection with the virus. The vaccine is typically given in two shots. The first one is followed by a booster shot six months later. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a hepatitis A vaccine for the following people:. If you're traveling to parts of the world where hepatitis A outbreaks occur, take these steps to prevent infection:.
Thoroughly wash your hands often, especially after using the toilet or changing a diaper and before preparing food or eating. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Hepatitis D is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact or sexual contact. Long-term infection with hepatitis D and hepatitis B can increase your risk of developing serious problems, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. There's no vaccine specifically for hepatitis D, but the hepatitis B vaccine can help protect you from it.
Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. The number of cases in Europe has increased in recent years and it's now the most common cause of short-term acute hepatitis in the UK. The virus has been mainly associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked pork meat or offal, but also with wild boar meat, venison and shellfish. Hepatitis E is generally a mild and short-term infection that does not require any treatment, but it can be serious in some people, such as those who have a weakened immune system.
There's no vaccine for hepatitis E. When travelling to parts of the world with poor sanitation, where epidemic hepatitis E may be common, you can reduce your risk by practising good food and water hygiene measures.
The British Liver Trust has more information about hepatitis E. Alcoholic hepatitis is a type of hepatitis caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years.
This is because it does not usually cause any symptoms, although it can cause sudden jaundice and liver failure in some people. Stopping drinking will usually allow your liver to recover, but there's a risk you could eventually develop cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer if you continue to drink alcohol excessively. It's recommended that you do not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. Read more about alcohol-related liver disease and the health risks associated with alcohol.
Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare cause of long-term hepatitis in which the immune system attacks and damages the liver. Treatment for autoimmune hepatitis involves very effective medicines that suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation. If a person finds it difficult to stop, they can reduce the risk of contracting hepatitis C by never sharing drug equipment, ensuring a clean, hygienic environment, and always using new equipment, including syringes, ties, alcohol swabs, cottons, and cookers.
People who may come into contact with infected blood, such as healthcare workers and caretakers, should always wash the hands thoroughly with soap and water after any contact, or suspected contact, with blood.
People can also reduce their risk by making sure that any tattoo artist or body piercer they visit uses fresh, sterile needles and unopened ink. The risk of contracting hepatitis C through sexual contact is low. Using barrier protection, such as condoms, reduces the risk of most sexually transmitted infections. There are many misconceptions about how hepatitis C spreads. People cannot transmit or contract the virus through:. Hepatitis C can be acute or chronic.
Acute infection occurs during the first 6 months after contracting it, while chronic infections can last a lifetime if the person does not seek treatment. In many cases, hepatitis C causes no symptoms. This means that people may have the infection without knowing it. Also, it is important to note that people can transmit the virus even if they have no symptoms.
The symptoms of chronic hepatitis C do not usually appear until a person has had the infection for some time. Most commonly, a person will learn that they have a liver problem after undergoing a blood test for another condition. Their blood test may show an imbalance in their liver enzymes due to some sort of hepatitis in general. However, people who have hepatitis C can still have normal liver enzyme tests. Because many of these symptoms are nonspecific and can occur with any cause of liver inflammation, people may not realize or even consider that they could have hepatitis C.
Doctors recommend that certain groups undergo testing for hepatitis C. These groups include people with symptoms and people who:. If the blood test identifies antibodies to the hepatitis C virus, a doctor will order further testing to confirm whether or not the person has the active hepatitis C virus.
Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the outlook for hepatitis C. Without treatment, the condition can cause life threatening complications, including cirrhosis liver scarring , liver failure, and liver cancer. The outlook for hepatitis C has improved dramatically in recent years.
Taking medications called DAAs may be effective for curing hepatitis C. Treatments can be expensive, but some insurance plans may cover them. People can speak to their healthcare provider for help with payment.
Here, we take a look at how long the hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body and how this affects the chances of transmission.
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