World Hepatitis Day is July 28.

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver. It can be caused by a viral infection, medications, drugs, toxins or excessive alcohol use.

Autoimmune Hepatitis occurs when your body makes antibodies against your liver tissue. The most common types are A, B & C.

Hepatitis B & C are most commonly found in outpatient settings, such as long-term care facilities and hospitals as a result of reuse of needles, syringes and finger-stick devices.

March 2017 saw a Hepatitis A outbreak in Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. Type A is spread primarily through food or water contaminated with the strain.

The CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis Laboratory has monitored and studied over 2,500 specimens from outbreaks of Hepatitis A between January 2017 to April 2018. An estimated 3.2 million people live with chronice Hepititis C in the US.

They found symptoms of Hepatitis A arise 15 to 50 days after contact with an infected person. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood. Hep C ranges from mild illness lasting for a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness that damages the liver. Vaccinations are available for Hepatitis A and B but not for C.

A positive hepititis diagnosis must be confirmed with blood testing. Symptoms include headaches, fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

For more information, visit www.cdc.com/hepatitis

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