Hepatitis Testing - Local - Confidential - STD Testing
Hepatitis B
- About 46,000 American women, men, and children become infected with Hep B each year. Most of these infections occur among people who are age 20 to 49
- Hep B often has no symptoms
- Hep B can easily be spread with or without symptoms.
- About 1 out of 2 adults who have Hep B never show symptoms.
- Hepatitis B is very contagious. It is passed through an exchange of semen, vaginal fluids, blood, and urine by having sexual intercourse:
- without a latex or female condom
- having unprotected oral sex
- sharing personal hygiene utensils such as toothbrushes and razors
- accidental pricks with contaminated needles in the course of health care
Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis C can spread during sex, but this is very rare
- Hep C is more likely to be spread during sex if either of the sex partners also has another sexually transmitted infection
- Hepatitis C is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States
- Approximately 3.2 million persons are chronically infected
- HCV infection accounts for an estimated 8,000–10,000 deaths each year in the United States
- Persons with HIV infection are known to be at increased risk for HCV infection
Hepatitis refers to damage to the liver caused by swelling. In this case, it refers to two of the more common causes of Hepatitis, infections by the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses (HBV and HCV respectively.) Hepatitis infections can either be acute, in which case they are killed by the body's immune system, or chronic, where they are permanent and slowly scar the liver over time.
Hepatitis B tends to be more mild than Hepatitis C, and can be prevented by vaccine. Infections of HBV are rarely chronic, and almost never damaging when not permanent.
Hepatitis C is acute in only 15-40% of cases, and tends to be more damaging on the liver than HBV when chronic. Like HBV, HCV will generally clear with little damage when it is acute. However, due to its higher rate of chronic infection, and the lack of a vaccine, HCV is far more dangerous.
Risk Factors:
With both viruses, Hepatitis is more easily transmitted through blood than through sexual intercourse. Unsterilized medical equipment, hypodermic needles especially, are the main method of transmission. Tattooing or body piercing tools can also carry infection. Always insure your doctors and body-artists use safe materials, and proper disposal methods.
HBV is more easily transmitted sexually than HCV, but both can be carried through sexual fluids and saliva. Hepatitis B and C can also be transmitted to children during childbirth.
HBV can be inoculated against, and vaccines are highly effective at stopping infection. A renewal of HBV vaccination is required every 23 years to retain efficacy, and failure to renew inoculation can put one at risk of infection.
Consider consulting our counselors for Hepatitis testing if you or your partner display the following symptoms associated with liver damage:
- Chronic fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea or Constipation
- Arthritis-like joint or muscle pain
- Frequent inflammation of the skin or rashes
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
Detection:
Blood tests that screen the body for HBV and HCV antibodies are the most reliable method of determining infection. Catching a chronic Hepatitis infection in its early stage is important for preventing damage that may lead to liver failure, or liver cancer. Contact our counselors if you or your partner are worried about having Hepatitis, to set up an appointment for testing.