Hepatitis A, B & C
There are three major viruses that cause viral hepatitis (inflammation of the liver): A, B and C. Hepatitis A is what was referred to as infectious hepatitis many years ago. It is spread by the fecal-oral route, meaning it is ingested in foods that have been contaminated by stool containing the virus, oysters being a common culprit. Patients are contagious early in the disease before they turn yellow. It is mostly a disease of childhood and many adults are immune without knowing they ever had it. It is generally a benign disease in children, but can be more severe and even occasionally fatal in adults. The major symptoms are jaundice (yellow eyes), fatigue and anorexia. There are blood tests to diagnose the acute illness and to check for prior immunity. The disease never goes on to any chronic form. There is no specific treatment once the virus has taken hold, but an effective vaccine exists. The vaccine is recommended for adults who have other liver problems and could not handle another insult to the liver and to people traveling to South America or Asia.
Hepatitis B, the old "serum hepatitis," is spread mostly through contact with blood or other body fluids. It can, therefore, be spread sexually or during childbirth, as well as through needle sticks or intravenous drugs. Donated blood is carefully screened for hepatitis B, so transmission that way is now extremely rare. The initial symptoms are quite similar to A, but unlike A, about 5% of patients develop a chronic form of the disease, either a chronic carrier state or ongoing damage to liver. Long term infection with B may lead to cirrhosis or cancer of the liver. There are several treatments available for chronic hepatitis B, but more importantly an excellent vaccine exists and it is recommended all children be vaccinated before starting college.
Hepatitis C represents the greatest problem in the Unites States. Unlike the others, the initial infection is often asymptomatic, but 85% of patients go on to develop a chronic form of the disease. They often present later in life when routine blood tests show abnormal liver function. Specific blood tests then can assist the physician in diagnosing the type of virus and the amount in the bloodstream. Many patients contracted C from intravenous drug use, often many years in the past, or from blood transfusions years ago. Currently, all donated blood used is carefully screened (as for B) so this form is no longer likely. There are estimated to be 3 million people in the U.S. with C, and many will go on to develop cirrhosis or liver cancer, if not treated. A fairly effective, though difficult, treatment exists, and this can be explained to you by an AIG doctor, all of whom have extensive experience with this disorder. There is, unfortunately, no vaccine for C.
