VIRAL HEPATITIS

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus.

This virus can cause symptoms that sometimes last up to two months and include tiredness, nausea, stomach pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes). It can cause severe illness requiring hospitalization.

The hepatitis A virus is highly contagious and only takes a microscopic amount of the virus to cause infection in a healthy individual. The virus is found in and spread through the feces (poop) or blood of an individual with the virus. Usually, the spread occurs through close personal contact with an individual who has the virus or through consuming contaminated food or drink. If an individual discovers they have been exposed to hepatitis A, they can get the vaccine within two weeks of exposure to help prevent illness.

The best way to protect against the hepatitis A virus is through vaccination before exposure. This vaccine is recommended for all children and for anyone with an increased risk of contracting the hepatitis A virus. If you have had a hepatitis A infection in the past, you are protected from future infections and do not need the vaccine.

Get your vaccine or get tested. Call us today to make an appointment: 208-327-7400

Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. This virus can cause both acute (short-term) illness and chronic (long-term) illness. Not everyone who is infected will develop symptoms, but the virus can cause tiredness, decreased appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes). If an individual develops chronic hepatitis B infection, it can lead to some life-threatening health issues including liver disease and liver cancer. The younger someone is infected with the virus, the more likely they are to develop chronic hepatitis B. This virus is spread through blood, semen, or other bodily fluids of someone infected with the virus.

There is a vaccine for hepatitis B, and this is the best way to prevent both hepatitis B infection, but also hepatitis D infections (discussed below). The hepatitis B vaccine is part of routine vaccination for children and adults. To avoid exposure to the hepatitis B virus individuals should use safer sex practices, avoid sharing needles or other medical equipment, and avoid contact with another individual’s blood.

Get your vaccine or get tested. Call us today to make an appointment: 208-327-7400

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. This virus can cause both acute (short-term) illness and chronic (long-term) illness. Many individuals have no symptoms or mild symptoms that can include fever, tiredness, dark urine, clay-colored stool, stomach pain, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes). Some individuals can clear the virus on their own and recover completely. However, some go on to develop chronic hepatitis C which can lead to liver disease and liver cancer. This virus is spread through contact with blood from someone infected with the virus.

There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C in the United States. To avoid exposure to the hepatitis C virus individuals should avoid sharing needles or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs and avoid contact with another individual’s blood. While no vaccine exists to prevent hepatitis C, there is treatment that can cure most people of hepatitis C.

Get tested. Call us today to make an appointment: 208-327-7400

Hepatitis D, sometimes called “delta hepatitis,” is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis D virus. This virus can only infect individuals who are infected with hepatitis B. Individuals can become infected with both viruses at the same time, which is known as a “coinfection”, or they can get infected with hepatitis D after already being infected with hepatitis B, which is known as a “superinfection.” The hepatitis D virus can cause fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes). These symptoms will typically appear about 3-7 weeks after an individual is exposed and infected. Individuals with a “coinfection” are likely to clear both the hepatitis B and hepatitis D viruses on their own. However, those with a “superinfection” are likely to develop chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis D, which usually causes more rapid progression of liver disease than chronic hepatitis B alone.

There is no vaccine to specifically prevent hepatitis D. However, since this virus can only infect individuals who have hepatitis B, the hepatitis B vaccine does offer protection against the hepatitis D virus.

Hepatitis E is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis E virus. This viral infection can cause tiredness, poor appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes). The symptoms of hepatitis E can take anywhere from 15-60 days after exposure to the virus. If you know you have been exposed, you should watch for symptoms for the full 60 days. The virus is spread through the feces (poop) of an infected individual and is usually spread through contaminated water. This virus is uncommon in the United States but has been linked to eating raw or undercooked pork, venison, wild boar meat, or shellfish. It is also usually linked to travel to a country where hepatitis E is more common. Many people recover fully from the disease without complications; however, some do go on to develop chronic hepatitis E.

There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis E in the United States. To avoid becoming ill, it is important to drink only purified water when traveling to developing countries. Individuals should also avoid eating raw or undercooked pork, venison, wild boar meat, or shellfish.