Hepatitis – The Silent Epidemic

Hepatitis Awareness Month: Shining a Light on a Silent Epidemic

Millions of Americans are living with hepatitis in its many forms and do not know that they have it. May being Hepatitis Awareness Month is a good time to remind more Americans to get tested.

Hepatitis is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver, which, over time, can cause severe damage. The most common types are hepatitis A, B and C but hepatitis can also be caused by our immune system (autoimmune hepatitis).

Hepatitis A and B are less common in the United States than hepatitis C. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2011 there were an estimated 2,700 hepatitis A infections in the United States. The virus can be contracted by food or contaminated water. Hepatitis A usually resolves itself without specific treatment.

An estimated 1.2 million Americans are living with hepatitis B; more then half are Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. Hepatitis B can be spread through blood, sexual contact and the sharing of needles and can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby at birth. Most cases of hepatitis B will also resolve spontaneously. However, in some cases the virus is not cleared and chronic liver disease results. The good news is that there are treatments that can suppress the virus.

Hepatitis C has emerged as a major public health issue in the United States. More than 3.2 million Americans are infected according to the CDC, yet as many as 75% are not aware that they carry the virus. Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver failure and end-stage liver disease and is a major cause of liver transplants in the United States.

Risk factors for hepatitis C include blood transfusions prior to 1992, tattoos, body piercings and IV drug use (even one time). People born between 1945 and 1965 should be tested.

There has never been a more exciting time in hepatitis C treatment. In the last few years, new medications became available that can cure the majority of cases of hepatitis C. But to be cured, one needs to know that they have the virus so testing for at-risk populations is critical. Early treatment can prevent more serious liver disease from developing.

The American Liver Foundation is the source of information on hepatitis, including a dedicated website for hepatitis C (www.hepc123.org), as well as general liver health information on its liverfoundation.org website and through its national toll-free helpline: 1-800-GO-LIVER (1-800-465-4837). Please look to us for any questions you may have about all forms of liver disease.

Additional Resources:

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HepAwarenessMonth.htm

· ALF Hepatitis A Information Page: http://old-liverfoundation.ouetvkfa5o-yjr3odyem61m.p.temp-site.link/abouttheliver/info/hepatitisa/

· ALF Hepatitis B Information Page: http://old-liverfoundation.ouetvkfa5o-yjr3odyem61m.p.temp-site.link/abouttheliver/info/hepatitisb/

· ALF Hepatitis C 123 Program: http://hepc123.liverfoundation.org/

· ALF on Twitter: @liverusa and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liverinfo