Hepatitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the liver due to various factors: autoimmune and infectious processes, toxic substances such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and which ends in cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, called types A, B, C, D and E.
General symptoms are intoxication, pain in the right hypochondrium, yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes.
Most people do not know that they are infected: in 80% of cases, the disease develops asymptomatically, unnoticed by the person and becomes chronic.
In order to prevent parenteral viral hepatitis, it is necessary to exclude:
- carrying out various manipulations with non-sterile instruments that are accompanied by damage to the skin: acupuncture, piercing, tattooing, in a nail salon or in a dentist’s office;
- sharing personal hygiene items. Manicure scissors, eyebrow tweezers, razors and toothbrushes can also carry the virus. In this way, family members where a sick person lives can become infected;
- sexual contacts without barrier methods of protection (condoms). The virus is contained not only in the blood, but also in sperm and other biological fluids.
The main means of preventing hepatitis is vaccination. WHO recommends that all infants receive the hepatitis vaccine to develop protective levels of antibodies.
Remember, hepatitis is easier to prevent than to treat!
The best prevention of many diseases is taking care of your own health.
