Lecture Notes

Hepatitis is a viral disease affecting the liver. It has three types: A, B, and C. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be sexually transmitted while hepatitis C is a common virus passed on primarily through contact with infected blood. We will examine hepatitis A & B since they are primarily transmitted sexually. Your text includes information on hepatitis C. There were 21,000 new infections of Hepatitis A in 2009. It is transmitted via oral contact through food or water contaminated by feces. It can also be transmitted via sexual contact, especially oral-anal sex. Although there is a vaccine, the virus can last from a few weeks to several months and does not lead to chronic infection. Vaccination is recommended for all children starting at one years old, travelers to certain countries, and other risks. There are an estimated 700,000 to 1.4 million cases of Hepatitis B. It is transmitted via sexual contact through blood, semen, saliva, vaginal secretions, and urine. It can be prevented by a simple, widely available vaccine. Symptoms range in severity from a mild illness and last a few weeks being acute to a serious long-term chronic illness that can lead to liver disease or liver cancer. The symptoms of all forms of hepatitis include fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, darkened urine, and an enlarged liver. Viral hepatitis is detected through a blood test.