“Deaths and disabilities as a result of hepatitis infections are on the increase worldwide”, said Bernadette Campbell, Group Nursing Service Manager at the Clinix Health Group. “So it’s important that people understand this disease and can recognise the symptoms,” she went on.
While heavy use of alcohol, toxins, some drugs and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis, it is more commonly caused by a virus, of which there are five types: A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver, which impairs the processing of nutrients, the filtering of blood and the fight against other infections.
“Hepatitis A is extremely contagious,” said Campbell. It is contracted through close contact with someone who has it, or through contaminated food or water.
“Hepatitis B is spread through contact with bodily fluids or by sharing personal items with someone infected.
It is also spread by sharing dirty needles. Women with Hepatitis B can pass the disease to their babies during birth. However, you can’t get the disease from casual contact.”
Most deaths worldwide are due to Hepatitis B and C, which cause liver damage (cirrhosis) and liver cancer. Adults infected with Hepatitis B will generally only have a short-term infection, however, 90 per cent of babies born with it will have a long-term infection.
So what should you look out for?
Campbell says symptoms include fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), nausea and often a loss of appetite. Children may have severe stomach pains and diarrhoea.
“However, some infected people do not have symptoms, and they may not find out they have hepatitis until they develop serious complications. The good news is that there are vaccines for hepatitis which can be administered to babies and adults. Hepatitis is also treatable once contracted,” added Campbell.
All children should get their first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine at birth and complete the vaccine series by six to 18 months old. Hepatitis A vaccine is given at 12 months.
“Hepatitis vaccines are recommended for all babies so that they will be protected from this serious but preventable disease. Babies and young children are at much greater risk of developing a chronic infection if infected, but the vaccine can prevent this.”
Booster, or catch-up, vaccines are available for children and adolescents younger than 19 years old as well as for adults who did not receive the vaccine as babies.
“You will be more susceptible to contracting the disease if you are travelling to a country with a high rate of the disease; have a blood-clotting disorder, like haemophilia; use drugs; have sexual or household contact with someone with the disease; or have HIV, or chronic liver or kidney disease.
“If you fall within this group, we strongly encourage you to contact your doctor or local hospital for advice on being vaccinated. It’s up to each one of us to stop the spread of this disease. It’s also important to remember that the sooner hepatitis is treated, the less damage there is to the liver, so early detection and treatment is vital. If you suspect you may have hepatitis, contact your doctor immediately,” Campbell concluded.
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