Hepatitis how do u get it

If you are infected with the hepatitis C virus, you can spread it to others even if you have no symptoms. Regular testing is recommended for people who currently inject and share needles, syringes, or other drug preparation equipment and for those currently getting maintenance hemodialysis.

A blood test, called an HCV antibody test, is used to find out if someone has ever been infected with the hepatitis C virus. This test, sometimes called the anti-HCV test, looks for antibodies, which are proteins released into the bloodstream when someone gets infected with the virus that causes hepatitis C.

Test results can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to come back. Rapid anti-HCV tests are available in some health clinics, and the results of these tests are available in 20—30 minutes. Your doctor will help interpret the results from your HCV antibody test and help guide you through next steps. It is important to know that. After exposure to the hepatitis C virus, it can take 8—11 weeks for an HCV antibody test to be positive. For most people who are infected, the anti-HCV blood test will become positive by 6 months after exposure.

For people with hepatitis C, it is common for liver enzyme levels to go up and down, sometimes returning to normal or near normal. Some people with hepatitis C have liver enzyme levels that are normal for over a year even though they have chronic liver disease. People with chronic hepatitis C and those with cirrhosis even if they have been cured of their hepatitis C infection should be monitored regularly by a doctor, because these people have a continued risk of complications of advanced liver disease, including liver cancer.

In addition, people living with hepatitis C should. There is no evidence that people can get hepatitis C from food handlers, teachers, or other service providers without blood-to-blood contact. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Viral Hepatitis. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.

Hepatitis C Questions and Answers for the Public. Minus Related Pages. Index of Questions Overview and Statistics. What is hepatitis? What is the difference between hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C? What is hepatitis C? How serious is chronic hepatitis C?

How likely is it that someone with acute hepatitis C will become chronically infected? Is it possible for someone with hepatitis C to get better without treatment? How common is acute hepatitis C in the United States? How common is chronic hepatitis C in the United States?

How is hepatitis C spread? Can you get hepatitis C more than once? Can hepatitis C virus be spread through sexual contact? Can you get hepatitis C by getting a tattoo or piercing? Can hepatitis C be spread within a household? Who is at risk for hepatitis C? Can a person be infected with both HIV and the hepatitis C virus? What is the risk of a pregnant woman passing hepatitis C to her baby? Can women with hepatitis C breastfeed their babies?

Can I get hepatitis C from a mosquito or other insect bite? Can I donate blood if I have tested positive for hepatitis C? Can someone with hepatitis C donate organs? The first dose does not need to be given again. Speak with your health-care provider or call your local public health department, where free or low-cost vaccines for adults may be offered. For children, check the Vaccines for Children Program.

All unvaccinated people, along with those who have never had hepatitis A, should be vaccinated before traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common. Travelers to urban areas, resorts, and luxury hotels in countries where hepatitis A is common are still at risk. International travelers have been infected, even though they regularly washed their hands and were careful about what they drank and ate. Travelers to other countries where hepatitis A does not commonly occur are not recommended to receive hepatitis A vaccine before travel.

You should get the first dose of hepatitis A vaccine as soon as you plan international travel to a country where hepatitis A is common. The vaccine will provide some protection even if you get vaccinated closer to departure. People who are allergic to a vaccine component or are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin before traveling to a country where hepatitis A is common.

Immune globulin provides effective protection against hepatitis A virus infection for up to 2 months, depending on the dosage given. If you are staying longer than 2 months, you can get another dose of immune globulin during your visit for continued protection against hepatitis A. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Viral Hepatitis. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Hepatitis A Questions and Answers for the Public.

Minus Related Pages. Index of Questions Overview. What is hepatitis? What is the difference between hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C? What is hepatitis A? How serious is hepatitis A? How common is hepatitis A in the United States? Are cases of hepatitis A increasing in the United States?

How is hepatitis A spread? Who is at risk for hepatitis A? What should I do if I think I have been exposed to hepatitis A virus? Can I prevent infection after an exposure to the hepatitis A virus? If I have had hepatitis A in the past, can I get it again? How long does hepatitis A virus survive outside the body? What are the symptoms of hepatitis A? Can a person spread hepatitis A virus without having symptoms? How is hepatitis A diagnosed? How is hepatitis A treated?

How can I protect myself against hepatitis A? Who should get vaccinated against hepatitis A? How is the hepatitis A vaccine given? Is the hepatitis A vaccine effective? Is the hepatitis A vaccine safe? Who should not receive the hepatitis A vaccine? What is immune globulin? Will the hepatitis A vaccine protect me from other forms of hepatitis? Is it harmful to have an extra dose of hepatitis A vaccine or to repeat the entire hepatitis A vaccine series?

While you're at it, find out what other vaccinations you need, too! Navigation menu. HBV: Protect yourself. Get vaccinated. What is hepatitis B? Is sex the only way I can get infected with hepatitis B? The hepatitis B virus can be spread in the following ways: unprotected vaginal or anal sex living in a household with a person with chronic life-long HBV infection sharing personal care items such as toothbrushes, razors, or nail clippers mother passing the infection to her infant during birth sharing needles or paraphernalia works for illegal drug use tattooing or body piercing with unsterile equipment human bites You do not get hepatitis B from sneezing, coughing, kissing, or holding hands.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis B? Only about half of the people who are infected get symptoms. Symptoms might include: yellowing of skin and whites of eyes dark-colored urine loss of appetite or nausea bloated and tender belly extreme tiredness fever pain in joints How serious is infection with hepatitis B?

Do people fully recover? How do I protect myself from getting infected? Who should get hepatitis B vaccine? The following groups of people should get vaccinated against hepatitis B: Everyone 0—18 years of age Anyone who wants to be protected from this infection Sexually active people who are not in long-term, mutually monogamous relationships Men who have sex with men People seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease Health care or public safety workers who might be exposed to blood or body fluids Residents and staff of facilities for developmentally disabled people Dialysis and pre-dialysis patients People infected with HIV People in close personal contact that is, household or sexual with someone who has chronic HBV infection Current or recent injection-drug users Travelers to regions of the world where hepatitis B is common Asia, Africa, the Amazon Basin in South America, the Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, or the Middle East ; People with chronic liver disease Three shots will protect you from hepatitis B.

How do I know if I've already been infected? The only way to know if you've been infected is to have a blood test.