There are five types of hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E) with different symptoms and treatments. Hepatitis C is the most serious, causing lifelong illness and liver damage. Teachers and healthcare workers are at increased risk. Safe sex and avoiding sharing needles can prevent transmission. Hepatitis A and E can be contracted through contaminated food or water. Vaccinations are available for hepatitis B and can prevent hepatitis D. All forms of hepatitis can have serious impacts on a person’s life.
There are five different types of hepatitis, labeled hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Each type has slightly different symptoms, and most types can be treated successfully. Hepatitis C, however, can cause lifelong illness and extreme liver damage. Teachers and health care workers are at increased risk of contracting most forms of this disease through exposure to blood or bodily fluids in their workplaces.
Hepatitis A is usually caught by sharing food or water with an infected person. It can also be contracted through sexual contact or contact with bodily fluids, such as infected blood or urine. Most people who get this form make a full recovery, although the condition can make people very ill. Like all other forms of hepatitis, hepatitis A causes inflammation of the liver.
Treatment for hepatitis A is usually rest, and it can take up to six months to fully recover. The initial symptoms are fever, aches and tiredness, which can persist for several months. During this time, the person with hepatitis is contagious and can transmit the disease to others, through the means of transmission listed above.
Hepatitis B (HBV) is transmitted sexually or through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. It is a serious disease and the virus that causes it can remain in the system for life. The virus causes inflammation of the liver and can cause permanent liver damage. Since no cure has been found, most children now receive a hepatitis B vaccination that protects them from this disease.
The most serious type is hepatitis C, which causes lifelong disease and significant liver damage. This virus is transmitted through contact with infected blood. Hepatitis C is more of an autoimmune disease and causes increased liver damage and gradual exhaustion. Although some people are now living with hepatitis C and doing better than initially expected, it is still a very dangerous disease. Safe sex practices and avoiding needle sharing are good ways to avoid getting this disease.
People can only get hepatitis D if they already have hepatitis B. This virus can cause swelling of the liver and is usually contracted through unsafe sex or sharing needles. Since hepatitis B may have already damaged the liver, hepatitis D can, in worst cases, lead to death as it can cause further damage to the liver. The disease can be completely avoided with HBV vaccination.
Hepatitis E is not common in developed countries. It is usually contracted by drinking water contaminated with the virus in developing countries. The disease causes swelling of the liver, but those who contract it tend to recover completely.
All forms of hepatitis are serious and can impact a person’s life. A case of hepatitis A, for example, could mean months of being unable to work or go to school. Hepatitis C or hepatitis D can mean serious complications and liver damage. People can avoid these diseases or significantly reduce their risk of contracting them by avoiding contact with bodily fluids, abstaining or practicing safe sex, and not sharing food. When visiting poorer countries, travelers should drink bottled water and avoid sexual contact with local people.
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