Hepatitis is a group of medical conditions when virus attacks your liver, causing inflammation. From your GP, you will hear three types of Hepatitis: A, B, and C.
Your Unanderra Doctor Knows These Symptoms
Hepatitis comes with some common symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Nausea
- Skin colour change
- Light-coloured faeces
- Aches and pains
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A commonly occurs in developing countries. Risk factors include contaminated water, hand-to-mouth contact, contaminated food, and faecal oral route. Once the virus entered your body, it will last for about 3 weeks, and then clear spontaneously (by itself).
Vaccination and personal hygiene are the key element in preventing hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is most common in developing countries (especially China, Middle East, SE Asia and Pacific Islands). In Australia, it mostly affects migrants from those countries and Aboriginal people. It is transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and unsterile tattooing, needle stick injuries, unprotected sex, and unsterile piercing. Over time, many people with chronic (long term) hepatitis B will experience liver scaring (cirrhosis), liver cancer or liver failure.
Hepatitis B vaccination and safer sex is the key element in preventing hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is transmitted by contaminated blood (injecting drug use, unsterile tattooing, needle stick injuries and unsterile piercing) and in a small number of cases, from mother to child during pregnancy. Around 75% people who contract hepatitis C will have a chronic (long term) infection. Over time, many people with chronic (long term) hepatitis C will experience liver scaring (cirrhosis), liver cancer or liver failure. New treatments are available in Australia and offer better chance of cure, less side effects and last for a shorter period of time.
Avoiding blood-to-blood contact is the key element in preventing hepatitis C.
Unanderra Family Doctors provide assistance in managing hepatitis infection through regular liver monitoring, lifestyle advice and treatment work up.
One of our friendly customer care representatives should be able to assist you to get further information. Please make an appointment today and come into our Unanderra Doctor mixed billing General Medical Practice and Surgery to discuss how we can help.
