What is Hepatitis A?

The three most common viral forms are: 

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C

The other forms of hepatitis – D, E, F and G – are very rare. 

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that occurs as a result of infection with the hepatitis A virus. The severity of hepatitis varies, from a mild form that lasts several weeks, to a severe disease that extends over a period of several months. Many people heal completely and will not have any long-term liver damage.

How is Hepatitis A transmitted?

Hepatitis A is usually transmitted when the virus is introduced into the body through the mouth as a result of contact with contaminated objects, food or beverages.

A person can become infected by:

• When the infected person does not wash their hands after using the toilet and then touches food or objects.
• When someone has sexual contact with an infected person.
• When a parent does not wash their hands after changing the baby's diaper.

The foods with the highest risk are fruits, vegetables, ice cream and water from unsafe sources. Chlorinated water kills the hepatitis A virus.

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and is one of the most important health problems worldwide. It is important to remember that hepatitis B can go from a mild to a severe form, which can affect us throughout our lives. Thus, hepatitis B can be classified into two types: acute and chronic.

Acute hepatitis B lasts less than six months, and the immune system has the ability to fight and eliminate the virus, during which time the body recovers. Most people with hepatitis B have an acute infection, but this can become chronic.

Chronic hepatitis B lasts more than six months or even a lifetime. In this case, the immune system cannot fight the infection, this can lead to other diseases that put our lives in danger.

Causes, and how is hepatitis B transmitted?

The virus can be transmitted from one person to another through blood, sperm or other bodily fluids. There are cases when hepatitis B is transmitted from mother to baby during birth. The most common ways of contacting the HBV virus are through sexual transmission, in the case of unprotected sexual contact with an infected person. Also, the HBV virus can be transmitted by reuse of contaminated needles and syringes, which have not been sterilized previously (tattoo). Hepatitis B infections can also occur during medical, surgical or dental interventions if the instruments used have been contaminated and have not been sterilized.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?

In the acute phase, the disease is most often asymptomatic or manifested by fatigue, muscle pain, irritability, nausea - symptoms that can be easily confused or ignored by patients. In most cases, the disease is identified much later, most often after a set of routine liver tests or when complications occur. Once penetrated into the blood, the hepatitis C virus attaches to the liver cell and begins to multiply, spreading to the liver.

Early symptoms of Hepatitis C are:

• Lack of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Tiredness and fatigue

Symptoms that appear more than 12 months after contacting the HVC virus:

• Continuous and exacerbated by fatigue, concentration and memory problems
• Feeling bad
• Depression, anxiety
• Indigestion, bloating, abdominal pain
• Joint and muscle pain
• The skin and eyes get a yellow tint