What is Hepatitis?
Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and detoxifies chemicals. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B,C,D and E. There are these five types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread. In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Key fact
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A is highly contagious. It is usually transmitted by the fecal-oral route, either through person-to-person contact or consumption of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection.
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). it is transferred when blood , semen, or other body fluid enters the body from a carrier of the virus via used needles, syringes, razors or other drug-injection equipment; it can also be transferred to a baby during birth. Hepatitis B can be an acute, or short-term illness, and in some cases,it can turn into a long term chronic infection. Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Chronic Hepatitis C is a serious disease that can result in long-term health problems, and can lead to death. The majority of carriers might not be aware of their infection because no clinical symptoms appear. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. Hepatitis D is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis D virus (HDV). Hepatitis D only occurs among people who are infected with the Hepatitis B virus because HDV is an incomplete virus that requires the helper function of HBV to replicate. HDV can be an acute, short-term, infection or a long-term, chronic infection. Hepatitis D is transmitted through per-cutaneous or mucosal contact with infectious blood and can be acquired either as a co infection with HBV or as super infection in people with HBV infection. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis D, but it can be prevented in persons who are not already HBV-infected by Hepatitis B vaccination. Hepatitis E is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis E virus (HEV). Hepatitis E is a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection. It is transmitted from ingestion of fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts, and is usually associated with contaminated water supply in countries with poor sanitation.Enlighten yourself!
Hepatitis A & E: 5 ways to protect yourself.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the hepatitis A vaccine.
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using the toilet, changing a baby’s nappy ,preparing food and eating.
Cook food well and eat it while it’s hot. Avoid raw shellfish and raw meat.
Peel fruit and vegetable, wash salads in clean water.
Only drink safe water.
Hepatitis B, C & D: 5 ways to protect yourself.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the hepatitis B vaccine.
Never share needles, razors or toothbrushes.
If pregnant talk to your doctor about how to prevent transmission to your baby.
Use only sterilized piercing instrument.
Where possible, choose oral medication instead of injections.
Does my insurance policy cover hepatitis?
Yes. According to CCHI unified Policy terms and conditions, health insurance policies in Saudi Arabia should cover all categories of hepatitis.
Please Click Here to access the Unified CCHI Policy Wordings.Please Click Here to access the Vaccination Schedule issues by the Ministry Of Health.
References:
"Hepatitis A." Mediacenter. N.p., July 2016. Web. Aug. 2016."Hepatitis B." Mediacenter. N.p., July 2016. Web. Aug. 2016.
"Hepatitis C." Mediacenter. N.p., July 2016. Web. Aug. 2016.
"Hepatitis D." Mediacenter. N.p., July 2016. Web. Aug. 2016.
"Hepatitis E." Mediacenter. N.p., July 2016. Web. Aug. 2016.
"Hepatitis." Rules. N.p., n.d. Web. Aug. 2016.