Overview about hepatitis and
links to additional websites
Hepatitis is a disease that affects people from all walks of life. The most serious forms of the disease, chronic viral hepatitis B and C, are both very widespread. In the United States alone, hepatitis C has reached epidemic proportions, with 4.5 million people infected. Also, 1.2 million people have been infected with hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B is characterized by an inflammation of the liver. It is primarily a viral disease that can affect anyone. The most serious forms of hepatitis are primarily spread through contact with infected blood and blood products.
The risk factors for becoming infected with hepatitis B or C are more numerous than many realize. People at high risk include: those having shared needles for either health reasons or illegal drug use; those having shared intranasal cocaine straws; those who have gotten tattoos; and those engaging in unprotected sex with an infected partner (primarily hepatitis B). Activities that also carry some amount of risk include getting body piercing or manicures/pedicures, as well as sharing personal care items, such as razors, nail files, and nail clippers, that may have been used by an infected person. Such diverse and common routes of infection have brought hepatitis well into the mainstream of society.
Nearly 40% of all hepatitis patients never learn how they were infected. And while most people with hepatitis B show symptoms, many people with hepatitis C can look and feel healthy for years, while extensive, permanent damage is taking place. In fact, this silent disease can develop over a span of up to 40 years. The frequently slow, often unnoticeable progression of hepatitis makes it a major health risk.
Some hepatitis sites:
NursingWorld
ANA Marketplace
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