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Hepatitis Risk Factors

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. When hepatitis occurs, inflammatory cells invade the liver tissue. There are five different types of hepatitis, and each type has its own set of risk factors. The five types of hepatitis include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D and hepatitis E. All five types affect the liver. Some are chronic and can lead to long-term damage, while others are acute and will often not result in long-term damage.

  1. Hepatitis A

    • Hepatitis A is transmitted through food and water infected with the hepatitis A virus (HAV) virus and through oral-anal contact. Hepatitis A does not lead to lifelong damage and is not chronic. Most people experience a full recovery. Hepatitis A risk factors include traveling to regions with a high incidence of this virus, actively engaging in homosexual intercourse, sharing needles to inject illicit drugs and working in a place where you may be exposed to the virus.

    Hepatitis B

    • Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with the semen, blood and other body fluids of an infected person and it is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B can be serious and can lead to liver damage and liver cancer. It can be chronic in some individuals. Hepatitis B risk factors include having unprotected sex, having multiple sex partners, sharing needles to inject illicit drugs, getting a piercing or tattoo with non-sterile needles, working in a place where you may be exposed to the virus, being pricked with a needle with infected blood, sharing personal items such as razors and toothbrushes with an infected person and by being born to a person infected with the virus.

    Hepatitis C

    • Hepatitis C is transmitted through contact with the semen, blood and other body fluids of an infected person and is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C can be serious and can lead to liver cancer and liver damage, as well as to chronic infections. Hepatitis C risk factors are the same as the risk factors for hepatitis B.

    Hepatitis D

    • Hepatitis D is transmitted through contact with the semen, blood and other body fluids of an infected person, but one must already be infected with hepatitis B to get hepatitis D. It is caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV). Hepatitis D risk factors include being infected with hepatitis B.

    Hepatitis E

    • Hepatitis E is transmitted through infected drinking water and is caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). It can be transmitted through oral-anal contact. This type of hepatitis is rare in the United States and it does not lead to long-term damage. Hepatitis E risk factors include traveling to places with a high incidence of this virus and actively engaging in homosexual intercourse with infected persons.

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