Unlike hepatitis A and B, it can take years before a person starts to feel unwell with hepatitis C and most people have no symptoms at all. They have been found to clear the infection in 90% of people 2. These are called direct-acting antiviral (DAA) tablets and they are the safest and most effective medication for hepatitis C treatment. There is currently no vaccine available for hepatitis C, but there are tablets that can be prescribed to help treat it. Other ways to treat hepatitis B include avoiding recreational drugs if you have the infection, avoiding alcohol until your liver recovers, and avoiding smoking.Ĭaused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that attacks the liver. If babies have a higher chance of developing hepatitis B - perhaps if their mother is infected - then they are given extra doses at birth, four weeks, and one year of age. The 6-in-1 vaccine is typically offered to all babies when they are 8, 12 and 16 weeks old, which includes the vaccination for hepatitis B. "There is a vaccine that can protect you against both hepatitis A and B and, if you are in a high-risk group, you can receive your hepatitis B vaccine for free, either via your GP or sexual health clinic," she explains. Govind adds that it's important not to share items such as razors or toothbrushes, as these can have traces of blood on them too. It can be passed on through oral, vaginal, or anal sex without a condom. Hepatitis B can be passed on in bodily fluids, so via blood-to-blood contact, semen, pre-ejaculate, and vaginal secretions. These people include elderly adults, people living with HIV, and anyone who already has liver disease. Some people have an increased risk of becoming seriously ill from hepatitis A. Most people tend to recover fully from hepatitis A without complications and once you have had it, it is extremely unlikely that you will get it again since antibodies from your previous infection can offer protection. This is because if a person feels unwell, they are likely to contact their doctor, who can perform a blood test to determine if hepatitis is present. In most cases, hepatitis A is diagnosed by a GP rather than at sexual health clinics. Govind stresses the importance of avoiding sex that involves contact with faeces. You can reduce your risk of being infected with hepatitis A or passing on hepatitis A by using condoms for anal sex, washing your hands after handling condoms, and using a latex barrier and gloves during sexual intercourse. People with hepatitis A can have symptoms that last for several weeks and it can be months before you get back to your normal self. Jaundice (where skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow, urine turns dark).
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