Laurel Kelly | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News Network
Hepatitis: Types, Prevalence, and Prevention
Hepatitis, characterized by liver inflammation, is caused by five main strains of the virus referred to as types A, B, C, D, and E. According to the World Health Organization, these strains differ in geographic prevalence, modes of transmission, severity of illness, and prevention methods. In the United States, the most common types of hepatitis are A, B, and C.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is highly contagious and spreads through contaminated food or water, as well as close contact with an infected person or object. Unlike other types, hepatitis A does not result in long-term liver damage or become chronic. However, it can cause acute liver failure in rare cases, especially in older adults or individuals with chronic liver diseases. Mild cases typically do not require treatment, and most people recover completely with no lasting liver damage. Practicing good hygiene, including regular hand-washing, is essential for protection against hepatitis A. Certain factors may increase the risk of infection, such as travel to areas where hepatitis A is common, living with an infected person, or engaging in sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis A. The hepatitis A vaccine is available to prevent infection.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood, semen, or other bodily fluids and does not spread through sneezing or coughing. Most cases of hepatitis B are acute and resolve within six months. However, some individuals develop chronic infection, which increases the risk of liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis. The younger a person is when they contract hepatitis B, particularly newborns or children under 5, the higher the likelihood of chronic infection. Chronic infection may remain undetected for many years until serious liver disease occurs. While a vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis B, there is no cure for those already infected. Factors that increase the risk of hepatitis B infection include unprotected sex with multiple partners or an infected person, sharing needles during intravenous drug use, and certain occupational exposures or travel to regions with high infection rates. Hepatitis B is a common reason for liver transplants in the United States.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through contaminated blood and is also a frequent cause of liver transplants in the United States. The infection can typically be cured with oral medications taken daily for two to six months. However, many infected individuals do not experience symptoms, which can take decades to appear. Prolonged hepatitis C infection can lead to severe complications, including cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all adults ages 18 to 79 for hepatitis C, even in the absence of symptoms or known liver disease. The highest-risk group includes individuals born between 1945 and 1965, who are five times more likely to be infected. Factors that increase the risk of hepatitis C infection include exposure to infected blood, illicit drug use, HIV infection, unsafe piercing or tattooing practices, receiving blood transfusions or organ transplants before specific dates, prolonged hemodialysis treatments, being born to a mother infected with hepatitis C, a history of incarceration, or being born between 1945 and 1965.
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