Hepatitis Fact Sheet

Hepatitis A

What is it?

Hepatitis A is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the liver. Cases last between 2 to 4 weeks and consist of: fever, feeling tired, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dark-colored urine and jaundice (turning yellow). In rare cases Hepatitis A can be fatal. The disease tends to be more severe in adults than in young children.

How do I get it?

Typically a person gets Hepatitis A when their food or water has been contaminated with the feces of a person who is already sick with it. This can happen during food preparation or if sewage isn’t appropriately treated. Blood is another source of transmission through sharing needles. Close contact, like sex, can also be a way to get the virus.

How is it treated?

There is no treatment for Hepatitis A, most cases resolve on their own.

What can I do to prevent it?

Hepatitis A has a safe and effective vaccine that is reccomended for everyone to get. Avoiding exposure is another way to prevent Hepatitis A by avoiding contamination to food and water supplies, and good handwashing hygeine, and disposing of waste products safely.

Hepatitis B

What is it?

Hepatitis B is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the liver. Symptoms include: dark urine, extreme tiredness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and jaundice (turning yellow). The damage done to the liver can cause liver failure or liver cancer, which can lead to death.

How do I get it?

Hepatitis B is spread in fluids (blood, semen, and vaginal fluids) and can be transmitted during sexual intercourse or if people are sharing needles. It’s more commonly spread through sex.

How is it treated?

Some cases of Hepatitis B resolve on their own, but other times the person becomes chronically ill and will be infected for the rest of their life. There is no treatment for the short-term version but if a person has chronic Hepatitis B there are medications to help control and and prevent liver damage.

What can I do to prevent it?

Hepatitis A has a safe and effective vaccine that is now required for everyone to get. If you were born before 1990 or outside of the United States, you may not have recieved the Hepatitis B vaccine. Avoiding exposure is another way to prevent Hepatitis B by with safer sex practices and not using dirty needles.

Hepatitis C

What is it?

Hepatitis C is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the liver. Symptoms include: dark urine, extreme tiredness, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, joint pain and jaundice (turning yellow). The damage done to the liver can cause liver failure or liver cancer, which can lead to death.

How do I get it?

Hepatitis C is spread in fluids (blood, semen, and vaginal fluids) and can be transmitted during sexual intercourse or if people are sharing needles. It’s more commonly spread through the use of dirty needles or contaminated blood products.

How is it treated?

Some cases of Hepatitis C resolve on their own, but other times the person becomes chronically ill and will be infected for the rest of their life. There is no treatment for the short-term version but if a person has chronic Hepatitis C there are medications to help control and and prevent liver damage.

What can I do to prevent it?

Since there is no vaccine, the only way to prevent Hepatitis C is avoiding exposure with safer sex practices and not using dirty needles.