Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 12
UNDERSTANDING THE MAIN TYPES
Hepatitis A is often linked to contaminated
food or water, or close contact with
someone who has the infection. It usually
causes a short-term illness and does not
become chronic, but it can still make
people very unwell. Vaccination, good hand
hygiene and safe food practices are key
prevention measures.
Hepatitis B is spread through blood and
certain body 昀氀uids. This can occur from
mother to baby during birth, between
household members, through sexual contact,
or through exposure to infected blood. It can
become chronic, particularly when infection
occurs early in life, and may require ongoing
monitoring and treatment.
Hepatitis C is spread when blood from
someone with hepatitis C enters another
person’s bloodstream. It is commonly
associated with shared injecting equipment,
but it can also occur through unsterile
tattooing or piercing, medical procedures
in settings with lower infection control
standards, or past exposure to unscreened
blood products. Modern antiviral medicines
can cure most people with hepatitis
C, which makes testing and treatment
especially important.
Hepatitis D can only occur in people
who already have hepatitis B. This means
protection against hepatitis B also helps
protect against hepatitis D. When hepatitis
B and D occur together, the risk of serious
liver disease can be higher.
Hepatitis E is usually spread through
contaminated food or water. Most people
recover, but it can be more serious for some
groups, including pregnant women, people
with existing liver disease and people with
weakened immune systems.
Why Testing Matters
Because hepatitis can
be silent, testing is one
of the most powerful
tools we have. A simple
blood test can show
whether someone has a
current infection, past
exposure, immunity
from vaccination,
or needs further
medical care.
Testing may be
particularly important
for people who have
had a possible blood
exposure, were born
in a country where
hepatitisw B or C is
more common, have
had unsterile tattooing
or piercing, have shared
injecting equipment,
received medical or
dental care in settings
with lower infection
control standards, or
have a family history of
hepatitis B.
