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55.1%ANMag Issue 17 Global Awareness
Confused about Hepatitis? Learn more about the different types
By Racha Adib, Staff Writer
Beirut, Lebanon − Hepatitis is the Latin word for liver inflammation. It is a serious disease that affects the liver and can cause long-term damage. There are five types of hepatitis classified according to the virus responsible for the disease.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is often due to poor personal hygiene, since it is shed in the feces of people infected with the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Thus transmission can occur through person-to-person contact if the infected person did not wash his/her hands after a bowel movement or through anal-oral contact during sex. It can also be transmitted through exposure to contaminated water or ice collected from sewage-contaminated water. It can even be passed on through uncooked food such as fruits and vegetables that were contaminated during harvesting or handling. While HAV can cause swelling and inflammation in the liver, as well as symptoms such as fever, anorexia, nausea and abdominal discomfort followed by jaundice, it does not usually lead to chronic disease.
Almost everyone who gets hepatitis A has a full recovery.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is spread by contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluid. It can be transmitted through:
- Semen and vaginal secretions in unprotected sex
- Shared needles in drug use
- Sharing razors or toothbrushes
- Blood-contaminated surfaces (since the virus can survive in dried blood for up to one week)
- Having dental, medical or cosmetic procedures (tattooing and body piercing) with needles that have not been sterilized
- Breast milk transmitted to an infected mother’s baby
- Kidney dialysis in kidney failure
- Blood transfusion
Hepatitis B can be fatal and may cause liver damage leading to cancer.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is caused by the virus HCV. It is spread the same way as hepatitis B and can cause the same symptoms. However, Hepatitis C is often slow-spreading and can eventually lead to the scarring of the liver − cirrhosis.
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis D is caused by the virus HDV. You can only get hepatitis D if you are already infected with hepatitis B. When hepatitis D becomes active, it can be very dangerous and may lead to liver failure. It is also spread through blood and body fluids in the same way as in hepatitis B and C.
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV) transmitted in much the same way as hepatitis A virus. Most outbreaks have been associated with contaminated drinking water. HEV causes swelling of the liver, but no long-term damage. Outbreaks of hepatitis E have caused high death rates in pregnant women.
Hepatitis prevalence in Lebanon
In the first study conducted in Lebanon for HBV and HCV prevalence, it was found that blood transfusion and kidney dialysis were the major risk factors for hepatitis infection, mainly hepatitis C. Gastrointestinal endoscopy (examination of the intestinal wall) was also a major risk factor for the hepatitis C infection in Lebanon*. Thus, awareness about hospital hygiene control is needed among health professionals in Lebanon.
In another study conducted for HAV in Lebanon, a shift of HAV prevalence from the younger to the older age group was noticed. “In light of the severity of the disease in adults and availability of safe and effective vaccines against HAV infection, introduction of HAV vaccination into the national immunization schedule of Lebanon should be considered.*”