Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be caused by viruses and can lead to serious health consequences. There are several different forms of the virus, including types A, B, C, D, E, and G.

How do you get it?

The most common types of viral hepatitis in Canada are hepatitis A, B and C.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is most often spread through contact with food or water contaminated with the virus.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are both spread through contact with contaminated blood, and HBV is also sexually transmitted. Both HBV and HCV can lead to serious liver damage, liver cancer and the need for liver transplantation. In Canada, about 500,000 people are living with HBV and/or HCV.

How can I tell if I am infected?

Following infection with a hepatitis virus, some people may experience symptoms such as fatigue and jaundice, but many people do not feel ill at all and remain unaware of their infection. If you think you might be at risk of infection, see your healthcare provider to have a blood test done.

**Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, G - What's the difference?**
Virus	How is it spread?	What are the symptoms?	How can I protect myself?
Hepatitis A	- Most often spread through contaminated water or food prepared with contaminated water - Spread through fecal-oral route (i.e. contaminated stool finds its way to a person’s mouth when hands are not properly cleaned, or stool with hepatitis A virus contaminates water that is consumed by an individual	- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) - Uneasiness - Loss of appetite - Stomach pain - Dark urine - Fatigue - Most people with hepatitis A infection recover naturally	-Hepatitis A vaccine - Wash hands properly before and after eating and preparing food
Hepatitis B	- Spread through contact with contaminated blood and organs - Also spread through sexual activity - Can be passed from mother to child - Can be passed by sharing personal items with an infected individual (toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, needles, drug snorting equipment)	- Jaundice - Uneasiness - Loss of appetite, - Stomach pain - Dark urine - Fatigue -May show no symptoms (at least 30% of serious cases show no symptoms)	- Hepatitis B vaccine -Practise safe sex - Avoid sharing items that might be contaminated with blood (toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, needles, drug snorting equipment)
Hepatitis C	- Spread through contact with contaminated blood or blood products. - Can be passed from mother to child - Uncommonly spread through sexual contact - Can be passed by sharing personal items with an infected individual (toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, needles, drug snorting equipment)	-The majority of cases show no symptoms - May show jaundice - Uneasiness - Loss of appetite, - Stomach pain - Dark urine - Fatigue	- Avoid sharing items that might be contaminated with blood (toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, needles, drug snorting equipment)
Hepatitis D	- Usually only occurs in people already infected with hepatitis B virus - Spread through contact with contaminated blood and rarely through sexual contact - Can be passed by sharing personal items	- Jaundice - Uneasiness - Loss of appetite, - Pain in the stomach area - Dark urine - Fatigue -May show no symptoms	- Hepatitis B vaccine -Practise safe sex - Avoid sharing items that might be contaminated with blood (toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, needles, drug snorting equipment)
Hepatitis E	- Common in developing countries - Spread through the fecal-oral route (i.e. contaminated stool finds its way to a person’s mouth when hands are not properly cleaned, or stool with hepatitis E virus contaminates water that is consumed by an individual ) - Most often spread through contaminated water or food - Can be passed from mother to child, but hepatitis E is more commonly found in adults	- Jaundice - Uneasiness - Loss of appetite, - Stomach pain - Dark urine - Fatigue - 90 % of children infected with Hepatitis E show no symptoms	- Wash hands properly before and after eating and preparing food - Be especially conscious when travelling to developing countries
Hepatitis G	- Often found in co-infections with other viruses, such as hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - Spread through contact with infected blood or blood products - May be spread by sharing personal items contaminated with the virus - May be passed from mother to child at birth - May be spread through sexual activity	Shows no symptoms	- Hepatitis B vaccine -Practise safe sex - Avoid sharing items that might be contaminated by blood (toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, needles, drug snorting equipment)

How can I protect myself?

Some hepatitis viruses share common risk factors with other infectious diseases, like HIV, sexually-transmitted infections, and tuberculosis.

Depending on the type of viral hepatitis, you can reduce your risk of infection by:

Washing your hands properly before and after preparing and eating food;
Practising safe sex; and,
Not sharing personal materials that may come into contact with blood (i.e. needles, razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, etc.).

There are vaccines available to prevent HAV and HBV. At this time, however, there is no licensed vaccine to protect you from HCV infection, so changing behaviours that increase risk is key to protecting yourself from infection and to preventing the spread of infection to others.

What should I do if I think I might have been infected with a hepatitis virus?

If you have engaged in any activity that may have put you at risk of infection, whether recently or in the past, you should see your health-care provider as soon as possible. Viral hepatitis infections can be diagnosed through a blood test.

There are medications available to treat HBV and HCV. If you do have a hepatitis virus, your healthcare provider can give you information on what treatment might be right for you. Treatment can help to protect you from serious liver damage.

Early diagnosis is crucial because the sooner treatment is started, the better the chance that it may help to clear the virus. Treatment can also help to lessen damage to the liver and can prevent you from spreading the virus to others unknowingly. See your healthcare provider to discuss your treatment options.