Hepatitis A, B & C
HEPATITIS A
What is Hepatitis A ?
It is an infectious disease caused by a virus which causes inflammation of the liver (yellow jaundice).
The incubation period (time between being infected and becoming ill) can vary between 2 - 6 weeks —commonly 4 weeks.
How do you catch it ?
The virus is present in the stools of someone who is infected. It can be spread by eating or drinking contaminated foods e.g. water, shellfish or from person to person where personal hygiene is poor.
Who can get it ?
Anyone who is not immune. Most cases are in children, but adults can also be affected. Once you have had Hepatitis A you get immunity and do not get this type of hepatitis again.
How do you know if you have got it ?
Often there may be no symptoms at all this is called asymptomatic. Others may only experience a mild tummy upset which soon goes. It is usually a mild illness in children and more severe in adults.
Many
cases become jaundiced (yellow colouring of skin and eyes), have sickness and diarrhoea, fever, loss
of appetite and feel generally rather miserable.
Often the urine becomes dark as well.
What happens if you get it ?
You get better. It might take a few weeks before getting back to normal, but the acute symptoms usually start to go in a few days.
What is the treatment ?
There is no specific treatment. Bed rest and taking it easy are all that is normally required.
How can it be prevented ?
By attention to personal hygiene, particularly after going to the toilet.
There must be adequate means for people to wash their hands after changing babies nappies. Ideally to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, people should never share towels or soap. Disinfectants do not have any effect on the virus, hot soapy water used to physically remove any faecal residues and
body fluids have far better effect. Any soiled linen or nappies or clothing must be handled as little as possible and very carefully dealt with. Any furnishings that come into contact with infected faeces should be either discarded or thoroughly washed with hot soapy water, any cleaning done should be carried out wearing gloves and aprons that can be discarded after use.
How long is someone infectious ?
From a few weeks before they show any symptoms to a few days after developing jaundice.
Isn’t this infection caught from blood ?
No, that is Hepatitis B. Although the names sound the same, they are totally different and should not be confused.
Is there a vaccine ?
Yes, but this is usually recommended for those who travel to countries where hepatitis A is common or for those who may be at higher risk of getting the disease.
What about going to school or work ?
Children
should be kept at home whilst they are still ill and can usually go back to school 7 days from the onset
of jaundice and when clinically well with no symptoms.
Children who are at home should
not play out whilst they are still infectious.
HEPATITIS B
What is Hepatitis B ?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Viruses
are the commonest cause but drugs, changes in bodies immune systems and excess of alcohol can also cause
Hepatitis.
At present there are six different types of virus which are known to cause
hepatitis.
The particular type of hepatitis that can pose the most threat to your health
is HEPATITIS B (Hep B) which is caused by a virus.
How is Hepatitis B transmitted ?
Hep B is found in all of the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, semen, saliva, breast milk and urine.
For this reason, the virus can be transmitted through sexual contact, injection or puncture of the skin with contaminated needles, the spillage of body fluids onto open cuts and sores. It can also be transmitted from mother to baby during childbirth.
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B ?
In many cases there may be no symptoms. Where people show symptoms these can include aches, pains, stomach upset, loss of appetite and sore throats, often progressing to jaundice.
The incubation period is between 1—6 months, usually 3 months.
Over half of these people develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine or pale faeces, which can last for up to 8 weeks.
95% of people who develop an infection as adults recover fully.
Hepatitis B carriers
Another important feature of infection is that a small proportion of those infected people may become carriers of the virus, which means they will be infectious to others even after recovery from the disease.
Those where infection is acquired at birth are much more likely to become carriers—
less so when infection is acquired in adult life.
Carriers of Hep B may go on to develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for the actual disease. Your doctor will advise plenty
of rest to eat healthily and to avoid alcoholic drinks.
Health And Safety measures
In the United Kingdom, all blood donated is screened for Hep B.
There are many precautions you can take to avoid becoming infected with Hep B.
These include:
-
Covering all cuts and grazes with a waterproof dressing
-
Wearing a plastic apron and gloves when cleaning up or carrying out techniques which allow you to come into contact with other peoples body fluids
-
If body fluid/blood is spilt mop up fluid etc with absorbent tissue which can be disposed of down the toilet. Alternatively if you have hypochlorite granules or powder sprinkle this over the spillage and wait until all the fluid has been absorbed and remove with paper towels. Clean the area with dilute bleach solution (one part bleach to ten of water)
-
Disposing of used sharps, such as needles in containers which are strong enough not to be punctured.
-
A condom will protect from becoming infected with Hep B during sexual intercourse as will other safer sex activities
-
Not sharing needles
Hepatitis B vaccine
Hep B is not all doom an gloom! It can be prevented. There is a safe and effective vaccine which people at risk of infection can have. It is given as 3 injections over 6 months.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL THREE INJECTIONS !!
You should have a blood test around 2 months after finishing the course of injections to ensure that the vaccine has worked. Some people may need a booster vaccination for adequate immunity. The vaccine is effective in about 90% of people. Hep B vaccine is normally indicated for those working in high risk areas, i.e. health care workers or for protecting sexual partners of those infected.
If you need vaccinating you can obtain it through your occupational health department or your GP.
HEPATITIS C
What is Hepatitis C ?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Viruses
are the commonest cause but drugs, changes in the body’s immune system and alcohol excess can also cause
hepatitis.
At present there are six different types of virus known to cause Hepatitis
of which Hepatitis C (Hep C) is one. As this virus is one of the more recently discovered hepatitis
virus there is much to learn about the disease it causes.
How is it spread ?
-
By sharing contaminated needles or other drug injection equipment with someone who is already infected with the virus
-
By using non-sterilised equipment for tattooing, acupuncture or body piercing
-
By unprotected sex with someone who is infected
-
Through a blood transfusion in a country where blood is not tested for the Hep C virus. All blood for transfusion in the UK is tested
-
On rare occasions from an infected mother to her baby, mainly during delivery
Signs and symptoms
The majority of people do not show symptoms or become jaundiced when they first pick up the infection. The rest may have any of the following symptoms:
-
A short mild flu-like illness
-
Nausea and vomiting
-
Diarrhoea
-
Loss of appetite
-
Weight loss
-
Jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale faeces)
-
Itchy skin
It is estimated that three quarters of those exposed to Hep C will develop some form of chronic liver disease.
Tests for Hepatitis C
Screening tests for the Hep C virus have only been available since 1989. To determine active infection further special tests will be necessary.
Treatment
Some people who suffer an acute attack of Hep C make a complete recovery without treatment. Others who have infection for longer than six months may need treatment in specialist hospitals.
Prevention of spread
In the United Kingdom, all blood donated
is screened for Hep C.
There are many precautions you can take to avoid becoming infected
with Hep C.
These include:
-
Not sharing needles.
-
Covering all cuts and grazes with a waterproof dressing.
-
Wearing aprons and gloves when cleaning up or carrying out techniques which allow you to come into contact with other peoples body fluids.
-
If body fluid/blood is spilt mop up fluid etc with absorbent tissue which can be disposed of down the toilet. Alternatively if you have hypochlorite granules or powder sprinkle this over the spillage and wait until all the fluid has been absorbed and remove with paper towels. Clean the area with dilute bleach solution (one part bleach to ten of water).
-
Disposing of used sharps, such as needles in containers which are strong enough not to be punctured.
-
A condom will protect you from becoming infected with Hep C during sexual intercourse, as will other safer sex activities.
There is at present no vaccine available to prevent Hepatitis C.
This page gives general information.
FURTHER DETAILS
Wiltshire Health Protection Team
Telephone :01380 733732
Website :www.hpa.org.uk/avon_glos_wilt (External link)
or contact your GP