Hepatitis is one of those diseases that none of us thinks we’ll ever get, but truth of the matter is that it’s more common than we think and we’re all susceptible to one of its forms. And most of us are aware of the stigmas attached.

So, what is it? The hepatitis viruses we hear most about A, B and C, are an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can come on with certain medical conditions but most of the time it’s caused by a highly contagious virus and transmitted from person to person in a variety of ways.

Hepatitis A typically causes only a minor illness and often infected people are unaware they are sick. The virus will go away by itself and won’t cause long-term liver damage.

It’s spread through contaminated food and water and that contamination starts when an infected person doesn’t wash his/her hands properly after using the toilet. Raw fish, shellfish, vegetables and undercooked foods are frequently the culprits for spreading the infection.

Daycare centers report higher incidents of the virus when caregivers aren’t careful about washing up after handling diapers. This puts the children at risk as well as co-workers.

When traveling to a foreign country, check the Centers for Disease control’s website to find out if it’s high risk for hepatitis A. If so, avoid drinking tap water, drinks with ice, unless they’re made from bottled water and consuming any raw foods.

Make it a habit to always wash fruit and vegetables even if they have a skin that you’re going to remove. It’s very important, in a melon for instance, that you wash it before you cut into it as the knife running through the skin can pick up the virus and contaminate the fruit.

By the time symptoms appear, two to seven weeks after exposure, the virus is already leaving your body, although you are still infectious. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, sore muscles, headache, pain on the right side of the abdomen where the liver is, nausea and loss of appetite. As mentioned above, these symptoms are usually mild and may be blamed on ordinary stomach flu.

There is a vaccine available to protect against hepatitis A and the CDC recommends each child aged 12 to 23 months be inoculated. Adults who work in high-risk areas, that includes restaurant workers, or those anticipating travel should also be vaccinated.

There is also a vaccine for hepatitis B. The main difference between the A and B virus is that B is contracted through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person.

In the U.S. it’s most commonly spread through unprotected sex. You can also get it by sharing needles, or if you’re not into drugs, the razor or toothbrush of an infected person. It’s not spread by hugging, sharing food or coughing.

Most of the time the virus will run its course, but for some it can cause a long-term infection. Mothers can pass the virus onto their babies of whom 90 percent will carry it with them forever.

Next week we’ll discuss hepatitis C, which is the most dangerous of the three. Meanwhile, be sure to wash your hands regularly and please talk to your healthcare professional if you suspect that you or anyone in your family has hepatitis symptoms.

Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at [email protected], 264-4029. (Source: www.webmd.com.)