PSA
Hepatitis Awareness Month
There are five hepatitis diseases: A, B, C, D, and E. Fortunately, only 3 are usually found in the
United States.
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bringing you this week’s health tip.
Hepatitis A, B, and C are common in the United States. D and E are rare but widespread in
developing countries. All Hepatitis diseases attack the liver and some can cause liver
disease or cancer.
Hepatitis A is transmitted by microscopic fecal matter, from close personal contact, or
ingestion of contaminated food or drinks. The illness often lasts for a few weeks to several
months and most people fully recover.
Hepatitis B is transmitted by contact with infected blood and other body fluids, sharing
contaminated needles, or from an infected mother to her newborn.
Only an extremely small percentage of those infected eventually clear the virus on their
own.
Hepatitis C is transmitted by contact with the infected blood, needle stick injuries in health
care settings, from infected mother to newborn, or through blood transfusions and organ
transplants prior to 1992 which was before widespread screening of the blood supply
began in the United States.
In fact it is estimated that 75% of those infected are baby boomers and unaware they are
infected.
Most patients infected with Hepatitis C eventually develop liver disease and many liver
cancer. There is no vaccine to protect yourself from Hepatitis C.
While your risk may be extremely low for Hepatitis D and E you are at risk of contracting A,
B, and C. You can protect yourself from A and B by getting immunized.
This message is brought to you by the Petersburg Medical Center and KFSK Petersburg.