WHAT IS HEPATITIS?
By: Sanjay Shah, M.D.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.  It can be caused by a variety of different reasons including infections, chemicals and even medicines.  Liver is one chemical factory of the body, it synthesizes a majority of the important proteins of the body, it stores glucose and it breaks down chemicals (including medicines) that may harm the body.  It also recycles amino acids (building blocks for proteins) and iron.

Infection of the liver (infectious hepatitis) is caused chiefly by viruses; they are named alphabetically in order of their discovery as hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus etc.

Hepatitis is commonly manifested as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and yellow discoloration of the skin and eye (jaundice).  All hepatitis viruses can potentially cause serious and even fatal liver damage.

In 1998 there were an estimated 180,000 hepatitis A infections in the U.S.A.

Hepatitis A virus mainly causes acute infection of the liver.  It may rarely cause liver failure.  It is transmitted by raw food, which is contaminated by sewage water (contaminating salad or fruits).  It can be passed on by food handlers who don’t practice proper personal hygiene.  Hepatitis A can be prevented by giving hepatitis A vaccine which is safe and effective.  It is not recommended for routine use in the state of Kentucky as yet.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes at least 200,000 new infections each year in the United States.  75% of new infections occur in adolescents and young adults.

Hepatitis B and C viruses are transmitted mainly by contaminated blood products and also sexually.  Intravenous drug use can also transmit these infections.  Exposure to HBV can occur through contaminated needles used for tattooing and ear/body piercing.  HBV is 100 times more infectious than HIV.  After a needle stick exposure.  Both Hepatitis B and C virus infections can be passed on by a mother to her child before or soon after birth.  Both of these viruses can cause chronic (long-standing) liver infections, which can lead to liver failure and even liver cancer.  1.25 million people in the United States suffer from chronic hepatitis B.  Transmission by blood products has become extremely uncommon since routine and effective screening of all donated blood is established.  However, any one who has received any kind of blood products prior to the early nineties should be screened for hepatitis C virus.  A very safe and effective hepatitis B vaccine can prevent Hepatitis B.  Since 1990, hepatitis B vaccine has become part of routine childhood vaccination schedules.  It is highly effective and capable of eradicating hepatitis B eventually.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C virus.  Not engaging in IV drug use and promiscuous sexual activity can also prevent both these infections.

In conclusion, by routine vaccination and some common sense prevention strategies most hepatitis B infections are preventable.