What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a potentially debilitating condition that causes inflammation of the liver. The liver is an essential organ of the body that filters the blood, processess nutrients and helps fight infection. When inflammation of the liver occurs, or if the liver becomes scarred and damaged from chronic inflammation, it can't do its job properly.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that certain lifestyle factors can precipitate hepatitis. Such factors include heavy alcohol consumption, usage of some types of medications and exposure to certain toxins. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus.

Different types of hepatitis viruses

The World Health Organization says scientists have identified five unique hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. Each can contribute to liver disease, but they differ in various ways. Here's a deeper look at these viruses.

· Hepatitis A: Poor sanitation typically is to blame for HAV infection. It is present in the blood and feces of infected persons and can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water or food. Certain sexual practices may spread HAV as well.

· Hepatitis B: This illness is spread when infected blood, semen or other bodily fluids from a person infected with HBV enters the body of another. This can happen through shared syringes and needles, sexual contact, or from mother to baby during birth. HBV also poses a risk to health care workers through accidental needle stick injuries.

· Hepatitis C: People with HCV often have no symptoms and do not feel sick. The CDC says most people become infected with the illness by sharing needles or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs, as it is primarily spread through the blood.

· Hepatitis D: The WHO says hepatitis D infections only occur in those who already are infected with HBV. This can result in a more serious disease and a worse outcome, particularly when individuals have "coinfection," or HBV and HDV at the same time.

· Hepatitis E: HEV is primarily transmitted through the consumption of water and food contaminated with feces.

Vaccines

Safe and effective vaccines are available to treat HAV and HBV. HDV often can be treated by receiving the HBV vaccine, and thusly preventing HDV.

There is no vaccine for HCV currently, and the best way to prevent the illness is to avoid behaviors that can spread the disease. However, the CDC says treatments are available that can cure most people with hepatitis C in eight to 12 weeks.

Safe and effective vaccines have been developed for HEV infection, but are not yet widely available.

To prevent long-lasting illness and potential liver damage, it is important to talk to a doctor about hepatitis risks. The CDC now recommends one-time hepatitis C testing of all adults and all pregnant women during every pregnancy, regardless of risk factors.