SO WHICH HEPATITIS IS WHICH?

There are three common types of hepatitis. Judy Laurentius, administrator of the Perry County Health Department, said many people, who have called her office concerned about the outbreak of hepatitis A in Bollinger County, are confused about which is which. She shared the following information from the Missouri Department of Health.

Hepatitis A is spread through the fecal-oral route, usually when a person puts something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person who has the disease. If hands are not washed thoroughly after using the toilet, the virus can be carried on the infected person's hands and spread by direct contact or by eating or drinking foods or beverages that were handled by the infected individual. Most people recover in a few weeks without complications.

Hepatitis B is spread by direct contact with infected blood, semen or other body fluids, usually through needle sharing, needle stick injury or sexual contact. It is not spear by casual contact. Hepatitis B virus can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Hepatitis C is primarily bloodborne, but can be spread through sexual and perinatal contact. It can cause chronic liver disease and is the leading indicator for liver transplantation.

Symptoms of all three are jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea and vomiting. A blood test is required to identify the strain of hepatitis.