Hepatitis A,B + C

 

Hep A

 

Type of infection

 

Viral infection

 

Symptoms

 

• Feeling fatigued or tired

• High temperature or fever

• Muscle and joint pain

• Loss of appetite

• Stomach pain

• Dark urine

• Pale, grey poo

• Itchy skin

• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)

 

Cause

 

Usually from having food or drink that is contaminated with the poo of an infected person.

Normally picked up in countries where sanitation is bad. Not very common in the UK.

 

Treatment

 

Hep A can pass in a few months with plenty of rest and fluid. 

If you are intending on going to a country where sanitation is poor then it would be recommended that you get the Hep A vaccination.

Gay men and men who have sex with men are also recommended to get the vaccination through their local sexual health clinic.

 

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Hep B

 

Type of infection

 

Viral infection

 

Symptoms

 

• Feeling fatigued or tired

• High temperature or fever

• Muscle and joint pain

• Loss of appetite

• Stomach pain

• Dark urine

• Pale, grey poo

• Itchy skin

• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)

 

Cause

 

Hep B is usually found in the blood of an infected person and can be spread through unsafe  or risky sex, mother to baby or injecting drugs. Not very common in the UK.

 

Treatment

 

Adults can usually fight of the infection themselves but if the body is unable to fight it off then it may lead to a chronic Hep B infection. Medication (antiviral) would be needed to treat it.

If you are intending on going to a country where Hep B is common then it would be recommended that you get the Hep B vaccination.

Gay men & men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and healthcare workers are also recommended to get the vaccination.

 

 

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Hep C

 

Type of infection

 

Viral infection

 

Symptoms

 

• Feeling fatigued or tired

• High temperature or fever

• Muscle and joint pain

• There may be no symptoms at all

 

Cause

 

Normally spread through blood to blood contact with an infected person.

Most common Hepatitis in the UK. Can be picked up through sharing needles or through certain types of sexual activities like sharing sex toys without changing or using condoms or fisting more than one person at a time with out changing or using gloves.

 

Treatment

 

Some people may fight off the infection themselves.

For those who don’t the virus stays in the body for years and can cause  a chronic Hep C infection which can cause cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure.

Chronic Hep C can be treated with antiviral medication.

 

There is no vaccine for Hep C.