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Vaccination is one of the best ways parents can protect infants, children and teens from potentially harmful diseases. Vaccines are not just for kids! Regardless of age, we all need immunizations to protect against serious diseases. Get to know more about hepatitis A and B:
Hepatitis A Hepatitis B
| Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is primarily spread when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person ingests food or water that is contaminated. Hepatitis A infection does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal. | Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection. Less than 5% of the adults with acute infection will become chronically infected. |
Signs & Symptoms: Both viruses cause similar symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and yellowing of skin but hepatitis B symptoms might lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Risk Factors
| Poor sanitationLack of safe waterTravelling to areas of high prevalence of hepatitis A without being immunized | Exposure to infected blood and various body fluids such as saliva. |
Treatment
| There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Recovery from symptoms following infection may be slow and may take several weeks or months. | Chronic hepatitis B infection can be treated with oral antiviral agents. Treatment can slow the progression of cirrhosis, reduce incidence of liver cancer and improve long term survival. |
Prevention
Hepatitis A is prevented by immunization, improved sanitation, and ensuring food safety. The hepatitis B vaccine is the best way of protection from hepatitis B. Hepatitis B shares many similarities with hepatitis C but there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.
As for persons infected with the virus, additional prevention measures include:
- Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after any potential exposure to blood
- Avoiding direct contact with blood and other body fluids
- Clean up blood spills with a fresh diluted bleach solution (mix 1-part bleach with 9 parts water)
- Cover all cuts carefully
- Avoid sharing sharp items such as razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and earrings
- Discard sanitary napkins into plastic bags