Hepatitis C at a Glance
The Liver—A vital organ
Before you can understand how hepatitis can affect your body, you must first understand how vital the liver is to everyday life. The liver has 4 main functions:
- It is a storehouse for vitamins, iron and other minerals and vitamins.
- Responsible for the detoxification of poisonous chemicals found in fumes, smoke, alcohol, drugs and other substances before they can get to the rest of your body.
- Stockpiles energy the body needs to function.
- Plays a key role in digesting food, fighting infections, and manufacturing blood, proteins, cholesterol, and clotting factors.
The most common types of hepatitis are A, B, and C. Each can be prevented with a little help from you!
Types of Hepatitis
The 3 main types of hepatitis are A, B, and C.
Hepatitis A (HAV) is transmitted by fecal matter passed from an infected person through food, sex, or close contact.
Hepatitis B (HBV) is transmitted in blood or body fluids from person to person. (Sexual contact, passed at birth, sharing needles)
Hepatitis C (HCV) is spread by blood to blood contact. Sharing used needles, straws, body piercing, tattoos, blood transfusions before 1992, fist fights, and rarely sexual contact.
The ABC’s of Hepatitis
Hepatitis A is prevented by good hand washing and getting vaccinated.
Hepatitis B is prevented by vaccinations and practicing safe sex. HBV is 100 times more infectious that HIV and can live on hard surfaces for at least 30 days! 43,000 people died in 2007 from HBV
Hepatitis C is spread only by Blood to Blood contact. It is not spread by kissing, hugging, eating or drinking after someone. People infected with HCV cannot be excluded from any type of employment HCV can be spread with tattooing, fist fighting, anal sex, blood transfusions before 1992, sharing needles, rinse water, cookers. You might also be at risk if you are a veteran, healthcare worker, paramedic or first responder. HCV can live on a surface for 4 days!
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