What is the main cause of hepatitis?
Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
What is the most common cause of hepatitis?
Hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis in the world but other infections, toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, certain drugs), and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis.
What are the 5 causes of hepatitis?
Overview. Hepatitis is a general term used to describe inflammation of the liver. Liver inflammation can be caused by several viruses (viral hepatitis), chemicals, drugs, alcohol, certain genetic disorders or by an overactive immune system that mistakenly attacks the liver, called autoimmune hepatitis.
How do u know if u have hepatitis?
Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice) Abdominal pain or discomfort (usually on the upper right side where your liver is located) Dark urine. Sudden vomiting or nausea.
How do people get hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A Information
It is spread when someone unknowingly ingests the virus — even in microscopic amounts — through close personal contact with an infected person or through eating contaminated food or drink. Symptoms of hepatitis A can last up to 2 months and include fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, and jaundice.
Is hepatitis serious?
Some types will pass without any serious problems, while others can be long-lasting (chronic) and cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), loss of liver function and, in some cases, liver cancer.
Who usually gets hepatitis?
People with chronic or long-term liver disease, including Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. Travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common. Family and caregivers of adoptees from countries where hepatitis A is common. HIV infection.
What food does hepatitis come from?
Unpeeled and uncooked fruits and vegetables, shellfish, ice, and water are common sources of the disease. You come in contact with the stool or blood of a person who currently has the disease. A person with hepatitis A passes the virus to an object or food due to poor hand-washing after using the toilet.
What is the first stage of hepatitis?
The first phase of disease, during the first 6 months after a person becomes infected, is called acute hepatitis B infection. During this phase, many people show no symptoms at all. Among those who do have symptoms, the illness is usually mild and most people don't recognize that they have liver disease.
Who is most at risk for hepatitis?
Populations and Settings
- People Born Outside of the United States.
- Health Care Settings.
- People Who Use or Inject Drugs.
- Men Who Have Sex With Men. …
- Sexual Transmission.
- People with Diabetes and Hepatitis B.
- People with HIV/AIDS.
- People Experiencing Homelessness.
What foods can cause hepatitis?
Although foodborne illnesses caused by hepatitis A are not common in the U.S., water, shellfish, raw vegetables and fruit (berries), and salads are most frequently cited as potential foodborne sources.
Which hepatitis is most harmful?
Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Can hepatitis be killed?
The hepatitis A virus can survive outside the body for months. Heating food and liquids to temperatures of 185°F (85°C) for at least 1 minute can kill the virus.
Who is at high-risk for hepatitis?
Although anyone can get hepatitis B, these people are at greater risk: Infants born to mothers with hepatitis B. People who inject drugs or share needles, syringes, and other types of drug equipment. Sex partners of people with hepatitis B.
How to prevent hepatitis?
Frequent hand washing with soap and water after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before eating or preparing food can help prevent the spread of hepatitis A. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination with the hepatitis A vaccine.
Which hepatitis is danger?
Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Who is at risk for hepatitis?
People with high-risk sexual behavior, multiple partners, and sexually transmitted diseases. People who snort cocaine using shared equipment. People who have shared toothbrushes, razors and other personal items with a family member that is HCV-infected.
Which hepatitis is serious?
- Chronic hepatitis B infection may last a lifetime, possibly leading to serious illnesses such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Some people with chronic hepatitis B may have no symptoms at all. Some may have ongoing fatigue and mild symptoms of acute hepatitis.
What age is hepatitis common?
Who Is Most Affected? In the United States, rates of new HBV infections are highest among adults aged 30-59 years, reflecting low hepatitis B vaccination coverage among adults at risk. The most common risk factor among people with new HBV infections is injecting drugs, related to the opioid crisis and other drug use.
Where is hepatitis most common?
- The highest rates of chronic hepatitis B infection in the United States occur among foreign-born individuals, especially people born in Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Africa. Approximately 70% of cases in the United States are among people who were born outside of the United States.
Which hepatitis is not serious?
Other common hepatitis virus infections include hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Hepatitis A is the least serious and mildest of these diseases.
Does hepatitis shorten your life?
Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect the liver. If left untreated, it can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years. However, with modern treatments it's easily possible to cure the infection and most people with it will have a normal life expectancy.
Can hepatitis B be cured totally?
There's no cure for hepatitis B. The good news is it usually goes away by itself in 4 to 8 weeks. More than 9 out of 10 adults who get hepatitis B totally recover. However, about 1 in 20 people who get hepatitis B as adults become “carriers,” which means they have a chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis B infection.
What kills hepatitis in food?
The virus is killed by heating to 185 degrees F (85 degrees C) for one minute. However, the virus can still be spread from cooked food if it is contaminated after cooking.
Where is pain when liver is?
Pain in your liver itself can feel like a dull throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under your ribs. General abdominal pain and discomfort can also be related to swelling from fluid retention and enlargement of your spleen and liver caused by cirrhosis.
Can hepatitis be cured permanently?
A vaccine can prevent hepatitis B, but there's no cure if you have the condition. If you're infected, taking certain precautions can help prevent spreading the virus to others.
