May is Hepatitis Awareness Month and the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department encourages area residents to learn what can be done to prevent the spread of hepatitis.
The word “hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is most often caused by one of several viruses, which is why it is often called viral hepatitis. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis A is spread through food or water that has been contaminated by fecal matter. Hepatitis B is spread through blood and body fluids. Hepatitis C is spread through direct blood to blood contact.
Unlike Hepatitis A, which does not cause a long-term infection, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can become chronic, life-long infections. Millions of Americans are living with chronic Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, but most do not know they are infected. Chronic viral hepatitis can lead to serious liver problems including liver cancer. Each year, approximately 15,000 Americans die from liver cancer or chronic liver disease associated with viral hepatitis.Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B can both be prevented by vaccines. Cases of Hepatitis A have greatly declined in the United States over the last 20 years largely due to vaccination efforts. The Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all children at one year of age and for adults who may be at increased risk. Many people became infected with Hepatitis B before the Hepatitis B vaccine was widely available. The Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants at birth and for adults who may be at increased risk.
There is currently no vaccination for Hepatitis C, so prevention and treatment are very important. If left untreated Hepatitis C can be life threatening.
For more information about Hepatitis, visit the CDC website at cdc.org.
People who have questions about whether they should be tested for Hepatitis should contact their primary care physician. For questions about the Hepatitis vaccines and whether it is recommended, please call the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department at 325-646-0554.
