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 a contagious liver disease usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter - even in microscopic amounts - from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces or stool of an infected person. For more information go to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Liver Foundation

HEPATITIS B
Hepatitis B can be either acute or chronic and is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact with an infected person or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipement. For more information go to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Liver Foundation

HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious lifelong illness. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. 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. The best way to prevent Hepatitis C is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially injection drug use.

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/Disability Related Support Groups *Hepatitis

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SOURCE: American Liver Foundation
PREPARED BY: 211/lb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: June2012