July 28 is World Hepatitis
Day, which aims to increase awareness about viral hepatitis on a global
level. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 400 million
people worldwide have chronic viral hepatitis. A approximately 1 million
individuals die each year from viral hepatitis-related causes.
Hepatitis A is a liver disease
spread by ingestion of contaminated food or water or by direct contact with an
infected individual. The hepatitis A virus (HAV) can cause mild to severe
illness with symptoms ranging from nausea and fever to jaundice. HAV cannot
become chronic. Once a person is infected, he or she cannot become infected
again. There is a vaccine available for HAV, which is recommended for all
children at age 1 and any adults at risk of infection.
Hepatitis B is caused by the
hepatitis B virus (HBV) and can be both acute and chronic. HBV is spread though
contact with blood or other bodily fluids of an infected individual. HBV
infection may be symptomatic, but infected individuals may also go years before
symptoms or complications occur. If left undiagnosed and untreated, HBV
may result in serious liver disease, cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease or
death in 25 percent of people. There is an effective vaccine available
for HBV prevention, which is recommended for all babies at birth and adults at
risk of infection.
Hepatitis C is a serious liver
disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which can be both acute and
chronic. HCV is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected individual.
It is estimated that only 20 percent of people with acute cases experience
symptoms of HCV. It’s possible that patients may live with HCV infection
for years without experiencing symptoms until serious liver damage
occurs. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplant in the
United States. The U.S. CDC estimates that there are 3.2 million people living
with chronic hepatitis C nationwide, and most individuals are unaware of
their infection.
Symptoms of hepatitis C include
fever, fatigue and loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, darkened
urine, clay-colored stools, joint paint and jaundice. People who have
ever injected drugs, shared needles and equipment or who were born to a
hepatitis C-positive mother join Baby Boomers in the highest risk category.
Recent advancement in therapies
for treatment of hepatitis C can cure up to 95 percent of infections. Maine CDC
recommends that people talk to their health care provider about their risk for
hepatitis C testing. There is no vaccine available for hepatitis C.
For more information about viral
hepatitis resources in Maine, visit: www.mainepublichealth.gov/hepatitis
For more information about
hepatitis, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/knowmorehepatitis
Are you at risk for viral
hepatitis? Find out if you should get tested: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/riskassessment/index.htm
