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Hepatitis |
HV,
also known as the Hepatitis Virus is a very serious disease of the liver.
In every case of Hepatitis, the virus enters the body, begins
living in the liver cells, interferes with the cell’s normal activities,
and then uses the cells it has infected to manufacture more of the virus.
In other words, it’s a constant cycle.
Many
people who have Hepatitis have no recognizable symptoms or signs.
On the outside, people with Hepatitis may appear healthy yet still
have the disease and be able to infect others.
Those who do acquire symptoms may experience fatigue, loss of
appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, and mild stomach pain.
Some other less common symptoms are dark urine and a yellowing of
the skin and eyes; this is known as jaundice.
Taking a blood test is the only way to positively identify these
viruses.
Hepatitis A (HAV) is the least serious of any Hepatitis. It is spread by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated by human feces that has been infected with Hepatitis. Another way to spread this is by consuming food that has been handled by an infected person who hasn’t washed their hands after using the bathroom. About 150,000 people in the United States are infected per year with Hepatitis A according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hepatitis
B (HBV), if left untreated, can turn into a serious form of Hepatitis.
On average 1.2 million people in the United States are infected
with Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B
can develop into a chronic disease, which means it lasts more than 6
months. Up to 10% of the
200,000 newly infected people each year will develop this chronic form of
Hepatitis. The chances of
developing cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer are
increased in those who have chronic Hepatitis.
Hepatitis B is spread by unprotected sex with many partners and
intravenous drug use.
Hepatitis
C (HCV) affects 4 million Americans.
It develops into a chronic infection in about 85% of all of its
infected patients. Just like
Hepatitis B, if left untreated Hepatitis C will give the infected person
more of a chance of developing cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even liver
failure. “ Hepatitis C is
bad. My uncle almost died of
it, and that’s why you don’t share needles,” says Junior Jack
Cunningham. Liver failure
due to chronic Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants
within the United States. Hepatitis
C is spread by unprotected sex and intravenous drug use.