There are five main types of Hepatitis that will be discussed in this Hepatitis Overview.
Hepatitis A causes inflammation and damage to the liver. Most people do not have any symptoms of the disease unless they notice darker than normal urine, light colored stools, fatigue and fever. Often there is jaundice (or yellowing) of the skin. It is often spread through fecal or oral means or ingestion of contaminated food. Close person to person contact can also cause Hepatitis A. To avoid catching Hepatitis A, one should always wash is/her hands with soap and water or with an antibacterial cleanser after using the toilet. Also, use household bleach to clean all surfaces contaminated with feces...such as a changing table, or a surface where you may have groomed your bet.
Hepatitis B also causes inflammation of the liver. It can damage liver cells, leading to cirrhosis of the liver and cancer. There are few symptoms other than a mild flu type fever, dark urine, light stools, jaundice and fever. It can be one comes into contact with infected blood, vaginal secretions, semen, contaminated needles (includes tattoo and piercing needles), sexual contact with an infected person and even a bite inflicted by another person. The treatment for Hepatitis B is similar to that for Hepatitis C. Using Interferon and other Anti-Virals can often lessen the effects of the disease.
This disease can be deadly. In the Hepatitis overview here, Hep B and Hep C are both on the rise in this country and elsewhere. Although there have been cases where patients have recovered completely, they are rare. Hepatitis Causes major damage to the liver and the infection can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. People who have come in contact with infected blood, non-hygienic I.V. needles, razors and tattoo/piercing tools are usually at risk. There are no real symptoms other than possible urine and stool discoloring.
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Anyone having a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992 should be checked for this virus. Having multiple sex partners, use of IV drugs and dialysis patients are often victims of Hepatitis C.
To continue the Hepatitis, there are two lesser known forms of this disease. They are Hepatitis D and Hepatitis E. Hep D is a virus that also causes some liver disease and inflammation but it only affects those who have Hepatitis B. Any contact with infected blood or contaminated needles may lead to a Hep B patient contracting Hep D. Also, anyone who has contact with sexually with another Hep D person. The symptoms are basically the same as those for Hep B. Interferon is the main form of treatment. Note that the Hep. B vaccine prevents Hep D. infection.
Men who have sex with other men, I.V. drug users, dialysis patients, healthcare workers, affected moms giving birth to infants who will also be infected and those having sex with a Hep D person are the ones who should be concerned. Again...Hep. D infects only those already infected with Hep. B.
To round out the Hepatitis, there is another Hepatitis virus that few know anything about. That is Hepatitis E. It is a virus that, like the others, causes an inflammation of the liver. It is rare in the U.S. Transmitted through fecal/oral origins, the outbreaks of Hep. E are often associated with contaminated water in third world countries. The symptoms are basically the same as for Hepatitis B....mild flu-like symptoms, pale stool color, dark urine, fatigue and fever. Also jaundice is often associated with this disease, as it is with the others.
Travelers to developing countries must be careful about their drinking water. There is no vaccine available as of yet. if one must travel to a country where the water supply is questionable, using an antibacterial agent along with soap and water before and after meals and after using the toilet is recommended.