Each form of hepatitis causes similar symptoms, so how do you know which form you have? This simple blood test can help.
Overview
What are hepatitis A, B and C?
There are several ‘types’ of hepatitis. Each can damage the liver, and each is caused by a different virus. Three of those viruses are hepatitis A, B and C.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis?
In the short term (acute hepatitis), often there are no symptoms. Where symptoms do appear they can include fever, nausea, dark urine, pale faeces, muscle and joint pain, and jaundice. Where the condition becomes chronic it can cause liver cancer and cirrhosis.
How did I catch hepatitis?
Hepatitis A is usually passed via food or drink contaminated with faeces from an infected person. Hepatitis B and C are passed via blood and some other bodily fluids.
How do I get tested?
Book a simple blood test now.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is a viral infection that inflames the liver. Most of the time hepatitis infections are acute (short term) and will resolve themselves within a few weeks or months. But when the body can’t overcome a hepatitis infection the condition can become acute and lead to lasting liver damage.
How did I catch hepatitis?
The way hepatitis is transmitted varies depending on the specific type of virus: Hepatitis A is highly contagious and most frequently transmitted via food or drink contaminated by the faeces of an infected person. It can also be transmitted through unprotected sex.
Hepatitis B and C are most commonly spread by blood and other bodily fluids. Unprotected sex, sharing drug needles or sharing shaving razors are common methods of infection.
Hepatitis can also be passed from mother to baby, although there are vaccines against types A and B that are up to 95% effective.
Once you have recovered from a hepatitis infection you will usually be immune for life.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis infection?
Often, symptoms of acute hepatitis infection are so mild that they are virtually unnoticeable. You may feel generally a little unwell, but the illness will usually pass on its own. Where symptoms are noticeable they may include:
- Fever
- Nausea
- Joint and muscle pain
- Dark urine
- Grey, pale faeces
- Loss of appetite
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
If your symptoms don’t pass within a few days, see your GP. Where a hepatitis infection remains in the body for more than six months it can become chronic hepatitis. This is a far more serious condition which can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and liver cancer. Globally, chronic hepatitis still kills around 1.5 million people every year.
How can this test help me?
Blood testing can help you understand not only whether you have a hepatitis infection, but which specific type you have. This test checks for hepatitis A, B and C and can also provide some indication of whether infection is acute or chronic.
How do I get tested?
A simple blood test is all you need.
To get tested please contact Better2Know your Body on the number above or click book now.