HEPATITIS A /HEPATITIS B /HEPATITIS C

For more information about hepatitis go to the American Liver Foundation at : http://www.liverfoundation.org/chapters/ctalf/

HEPATITIS A, B, and C are the most common forms of the hepatitis virus in the United States.

HEPATITIS A
Hepatitis A is an acute illness that usually lasts about three weeks. In some cases, however, it may persist for up to six months. For more information go to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Liver Foundation

HEPATITIS B
The hepatitis B virus is a major cause of chronic or long-term hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Most people infected with the hepatitis B virus do not go on to develop chronic infection with the virus. Most adults fight off the hepatitis B virus. For more information go to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Liver Foundation

HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C is a slowly progressing disease that may gradually advance over time and lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and even death. For more information go to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Liver Foundation

VACCINES
There are vaccines available to help protect people from becoming infected with the hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses. These vaccines are recommended as part of the routine childhood immunization package and for all pre-teens.

There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, although research in this area is ongoing.

For more information go to: http://www.immunize.org/

TO FIND SUPPORT GROUPS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service names:
Disease/Disability Information *Hepatitis
Health Related Support Groups *Hepatitis

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SOURCE: American Liver Foundation
PREPARED BY: 211/lb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: June2008