Date of Publication: Revised January 2004

Advice on symptoms, treatment and prevention for hepatitis A, B and C, and general hygiene practices to help prevent spread of these diseases.

Is there protection against hepatitis? How is hepatitis spread? What are the symptoms of hepatitis? What help is there for people with hepatitis?

Hepatitis A, B and C are three of the main viruses that cause hepatitis infection. Some people (especially children) do not get ill when infected with the hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis can also be caused by alcohol and other agents. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver which stops the liver working properly. If you have a hepatitis illness the symptoms may be: Nausea and vomiting Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice) Dark urine (pee, mimi) Pale faeces (poo, tutae) Feeling unwell Lack of energy Not feeling like eating Stomach upsets and pains Fever General aches and pains.

• Close personal contact – including sexual

• Poor personal hygiene

• Sharing personal things with an infected person (toothbrushes, facecloths, towels, etc)

• Contaminated food – including shellfish, from infected sewage.

• Washing hands before and after preparing food

• Washing hands before eating

• Washing hands after going to the toilet or changing baby’s nappy.

• Close contacts of the person with the hepatitis A virus may be offered an injection of antibodies (gammaglobulin) for temporary protection.

• Immunisation may be offered to contacts and is available for long-term protection against hepatitis A.

• Immunisation or gammaglobulin is recommended for travellers to some countries

• Cuts, scratches, etc

• Close contact with blood (and other fluids) from an infected person

• Sharing toothbrushes, razors, towels, facecloths

• Sharing skin-piercing and injecting needles

• Sexual contact without condoms.

• Don’t share toothbrushes, razors, facecloths, towels

• Don’t share skin-piercing and injecting needles

• Don’t have tattoos, ear-piercing or acupuncture until your doctor says you are free of hepatitis B

• Don’t donate blood

• Avoid sexual contact during the acute illness. Use condoms if you continue to be a carrier

• Use condoms to help protect against hepatitis B and C (as well as HIV and other STIs).

• Cover cuts, scratches, etc, straight away

• Be careful about medication (check with your doctor about this)

• Limit alcohol intake

• Ask your doctor if you need regular tests to look for liver disease

• Tell your doctor and dentist

• Ask your doctor about hepatitis A immunisation.

HCV is spread mainly through contact with the blood of an infected person.

It can be passed on through:

• Injecting drugs or sharing injecting gear

• Tattooing, ear piercing, body piercing (these may be a risk if equipment is not properly sterilised)

• Infection of cuts and scratches directly from an infected person’s cuts and scratches – this is rare

• Sexual intercourse – this is rare.

• Don’t share toothbrushes, razors, facecloths, towels

• Don’t share needles or other injecting gear – you could re-infect yourself, as well as infecting others

• Do not donate blood

• Ask your doctor about:

• Wash hands before and after preparing food

• Wash hands before eating

• Wash hands after going to the toilet or changing baby’s nappy

• Avoid contact with people’s blood

• Don’t share personal items or injecting gear

• Use condoms