3 important things to know about Hepatitis

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus, which leads to inflammation of the liver and liver disease. In most of the cases, people suffering from hepatitis B don’t show any signs in the initial stage but may get a sudden decline in health later on. Usually, the recovery time is around six months. But, in some cases, the condition can become chronic and patients could be at a high risk of getting liver cancer and cirrhosis. Hence, it is important to diagnose early and seek proper medical treatment. Hepatitis B is also included in the travel shots. That means if you are traveling to the foreign country, you must take travel shots for hepatitis B to keep yourself safe during your trip.

• Not all forms are related to risky habits - There is a misconception among people that all types of the virus are transmitted through the direct exchange of body fluids. And, out of the five different forms of hepatitis, some viruses are transferred through infected water or food, while type C spread through only blood and type B through blood and body fluids. At present, vaccines are available for only types A and B.   

• Contaminated food and water are risky - Hepatitis A and E are considered acute forms of the viral disease, which means most of the people recover completely with no long-term damage. But, the infections may turn serious in people already having liver diseases. Hepatitis A and E are considered acute forms of the viral disease, which means most of the people recover completely with no long-term damage. But, the infections may turn serious in people already having liver diseases. Both viruses are spread by fecal-oral route - this is, consuming water or food that’s been infected by the feces of someone who has the virus. For those who are planning to travel to countries with poor sanitation, make sure you take vaccination 15-20 days before you take-off along with practicing good hygiene habits.
• Most people don’t realize they have hepatitis - Often it is difficult to detect hepatitis in the initial stage because it starts out with mild, flu-like symptoms including fatigue, fever, and body aches. It may take weeks or months before you notice symptoms such as loss of appetite, weight loss, skin rashes and the most prominent is yellowing of the eyes and skin known as jaundice. However, for some people, these signs may even take some years to develop, or they won’t show at all especially if it's hepatitis C.

If you are planning for a trip to a foreign country, it is highly advisable to consult a travel clinic to have the travel shots for hepatitis. Looking for the travel shots in New York? Consult- Travel Clinic of NYC.