Viral Hepatitis
Information and resources for the different forms of viral hepatitis
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver and is often caused by a virus. The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis, B, and hepatitis C. Viral hepatitis is a major and avoidable public health threat causing both acute (immediate, short-term) and chronic (long-term) liver disease.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which can be prevented by getting a vaccine. HAV is found in the feces and blood of people who have the virus. HAV is very contagious. It may be spread through swallowing the virus in tainted food or drink, or by close personal contact with a person who has the virus, such as sex. Symptoms of HAV can last up to two months and inlcude fatigue, nausea, stomach pain and jaundice (yellowing of the skin). Most people with HAV do not have long lasting illness. You cannot get HAV by casual contact in office, factory or school settings.
The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get the vaccine.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can lead to death. Without getting care, up to one in four people living with chronic HBV (long-term illness) will develop liver cancer or liver failure. People living with HBV may not feel sick for months or years. Yet, they can pass the virus to other, even if they do not have any symptoms. About 67% of people living with HBV do not know they have the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released updated universal hepatitis B screening and testing recommendations to increase people's access to testing.
Updated Hepatitis B Screening and Testing Recommendations
Getting HBV as a baby or in early childhood leads to chronic hepatitis in about 90% of cases, which is why New Hampshire has a program supporting newborns exposed to hepatitis B. This program is the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program.
Hepatitis B can be prevented by getting the vaccine and seeking treatment will prevent the spread of the virus.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is the most commonly reported blood infection in the United States, and is a leading cause of liver diseases and deaths. People living with HCV may not feel sick for months or years, yet they can pass the virus to others even if they do not have any symptoms. More than half of people living with HCV do not know they have the virus. HCV is usually spread by contact with blood from a person with the virus. Today most people get HCV by sharing needles, syringes or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.
There is no vaccine for HCV, yet it can be cured by daily medicine with little to no side effects.
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Contact us at HepFreeNNE@dhhs.nh.gov.