Preventing Hepatitis

You Can Prevent Hepatitis

This infectious virus is complex – it comes in three primary forms in the U. S. (A, B, and C) and two more less prevalent forms (D and E). Yet there is much you can do to help prevent hepatitis. Safe and effective vaccines exist to prevent Hepatitis A and B. Although hepatitis C does not have a vaccine yet, there are ways to reduce the risk of contracting it.

Here's what you can do to prevent or reduce your chances of getting hepatitis:

Preventing Hepatitis A (HAV)

Vaccinate. Immunization of children (1-18 years of age) consists of 2 or 3 doses of the vaccine. Adults need a booster dose 6-12 months following the initial dose of vaccine. The vaccine is thought to be effective for 15 - 20 years or more. Vaccines to prevent HAV infection prior to exposure provide protection against the virus as early as 2 - 4 weeks after vaccination.

Other people who should be vaccinated include:

· Users of illegal injected drugs.

· Restaurant workers and food handlers.

· Young people living in dorms or in close contact with others.

· Children living in communities that have high rates of hepatitis.

· Children and workers in day care centers.

· People engaging in anal/oral sex.

· People with chronic liver disease.

· If you eat raw shellfish frequently, ask your physician about being vaccinated.

· Laboratory workers who handle live hepatitis A virus.


Common sense hygiene. Hands should be washed with soap and water following bowel movements and before food preparation.

Traveler precautions. People who travel to developing countries where sanitary conditions are poor should be vaccinated two months prior to departure. For those exposed to HAV, immune globulin (IG) should be given as soon as possible and no later than 2 weeks after initial exposure.


Preventing Hepatitis B (HBV)

Vaccinate. Safe and effective vaccines can prevent HBV. Safe and effective vaccines provide protection against hepatitis B for 15 years and possibly much longer. Currently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all newborns and individuals up to 18 years of age and adult participating at risk of infection be vaccinated. Three injections over a 6-12 month period are required to provide full protection.

Newborns exposed to HBV at birth by an infected mother should receive Hepatitis B immune Globulin plus the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within l2 hours of birth and two additional doses of vaccine at one and six to twelve months of age.

All children and adolescents should be vaccinated since most cases of HBV occur in sexually active young adults. Those who engage in high-risk behaviors should be vaccinated as well.

Everyone who handles blood or blood products in their daily work should be vaccinated.

Practice safer sex (use latex condoms). If you have hepatitis, or if you have more than one sex partner within a six- month period, you should consider vaccination. Unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to HBV infected persons through unprotected sex or contact with infected blood or body fluids should receive an intra-muscular injection of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) within l4 days of exposure and the hepatitis B vaccine.

Don't share! If you are a user of injected drugs, never share drug needles, cocaine straws, or any drug paraphernalia. No one should share anything that could have an infected person's blood on it (e.g., toothbrush, razor, nail clipper, body piercing instruments, etc.).

Handle blood spills correctly. If there is blood spill, even a small one, clean it up with a 10% solution of household bleach (believed to kill the virus). Wear protective gloves.



Preventing Hepatitis C (HCV)

There is NO vaccine to prevent HCV. Vaccines for Hepatitis A and B do not provide immunity against hepatitis C (although those who are HCV infected should receive both hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination). The source of HCV infection remains a mystery in about 10% of the cases. That means preventive measures are your first line of defense against HCV.

Preventive actions for HCV are the same as for hepatitis B.