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Hepatitis

The word "hepatitis" means inflammation of the liver. This can be caused by a
number of things, such as chemicals, alcohol, drugs and infection by viruses.

The symptoms of acute viral hepatitis include fever, headache, lethargy,
nausea, dark urine, pale stools and jaundice. The most commonly encountered
viral hepatitis are type A, type B and type C.

Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral disease that affects the liver. It is spread by direct contact
or by touching items that have been handled by, and contaminated with faeces
from, an infected person. These can include food, drinks and other objects.

Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and can lead to serious
illness or death. It is transmitted in several ways, including through unsafe sex
and using other people's needles. It can be passed from an infected mother to
her baby. You can be immunised against hepatitis B.

Most people recover completely, but it can lead to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver,
increased risk of liver cancer and, in extreme cases, death. It is passed on by
carriers who may not even know they have the virus.

Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus which causes inflammation of the liver. It is
most often transmitted through sharing needles, syringes and other equipment
during drug use. There is currently no cure for hepatitis C and no vaccine to prevent it.

Click here to open a PDF document on "An overview of Heptatitis A, B and C from
Hepatitis C Council of NSW.

If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, Click here for free download.