It is estimated that about three Percent of the world’s population carries the hepatitis virus. Viruses reproduce with the help of the host cell, they don’t contain ribosomes, cytoplasm and membrane-surrounded organelles. Hepatitis is caused by infected blood, similar to the HIV virus. There are at least six different hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, E, F. However, I am going to focus mainly on the most common types (A, B and C).
Type C is the riskiest virus. It leads to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. On the other hand, hepatitis B is most commonly transmitted sexually through blood and other body fluids, it can be prevented with vaccination and also with condoms. Hepatitis A infects the human liver and causes human illnesses. Fortunately, it is totally preventable and the less dangerous than all the others.
HEPATITIS A (HAV)
• What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A virus or “HAV” is one of five human hepatitis viruses that primarily infect the human liver. It can cause human illness and death in the most extreme cases depending if the person have had previous immune system diseases or poor liver function. It is heat stable and can survive for up to a month at ambient temperatures in the environment. However, it is unusual in nations with development sanitation systems such as United States. Nevertheless, it continues to occur here.
• How is Hepatitis A Transmitted?
Hepatitis is a contagious disease that is spread almost exclusively through fecal-oral contact, generally from person to person, or via contaminated food or water. It also may be spread by household contact among families or roommates, sexual contact, by ingestion of raw or undercooked fruits and vegetables or shellfish ( like oysters), and by direct inoculation from persons sharing illicit drugs. Food contaminated with the virus is the most common vehicle transmitting hepatitis A. The peak time of infectivity is during the 2 weeks before illness begins.
• What are
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