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Hepatitis A, B, & C: What’s the Difference?
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July 30, 2018Hepatitis A, B, & C: What’s the Difference?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that members of the Baby Boomer generation be tested for hepatitis C. Baby Boomers are those who were born between 1945 and 1965. Boomers are believed to be at a higher risk for elderly diseases like hep C because the disease was at its highest rate of transmission between the 60’s and the 80’s. In part, the higher infection rates were because of differences in medical procedures and the handling of medical equipment.
Home Care Services Whittier CA – Hepatitis A, B, & C: What’s the Difference?
Although hep C may be the kind of hepatitis you hear about most often, it isn’t the only kind. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies 5 main kinds of hepatitis—hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Of these, hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common.
Hepatitis Basics
Hepatitis is a disease that causes liver inflammation. The liver is an organ located on the right side of the abdomen toward the top. It helps with metabolism by performing several functions, including:
- Producing bile to aid in digestion.
- Filtering toxins out of the body.
- Breaking down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
- Breaking down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
- Storing glycogen.
Hepatitis is usually caused by a virus. However, it can also be a secondary elderly disease caused by autoimmune conditions or medications.
Types of Hepatitis
The three major kinds of hepatitis are A, B, and C. Some of the symptoms are similar, but there are differences in how they are transmitted and treated.
Hepatitis A: This kind of hepatitis doesn’t cause a long-term infection. It also usually doesn’t cause complications. People usually get it when they eat or drink something that contains the virus. Most people recover completely and develop an immunity to further hepatitis A infections. There is a vaccination for the virus.
Hepatitis B: The recovery time for hepatitis B is around 6 months. However, it can lead to liver damage and chronic infection. Hepatitis B is transmitted through bodily fluids. There is a vaccination to prevent it.
Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C causes a long-term infection in around 80 percent of the people who have it. It often doesn’t cause symptoms, which is why it’s important for people to be tested for it. Hep C may cause liver inflammation and scarring, called cirrhosis. There is no hepatitis C vaccine, but there are treatments that can cure the condition.
If your aging relative has been diagnosed with a form of hepatitis, home care services can help them during the recovery period. A home care services provider can remind them to take medications prescribed by the doctor. In addition, a home care services provider can make certain the older adult and visitors follow safety protocols to prevent spreading the infection. If repeat visits to the doctor are required, a home care services provider can also drive your loved one to the doctor’s office.
Sources: https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/digestive-diseases-hepatitis#1
https://www.who.int/features/qa/76/en/
https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis
https://www.cdc.gov/knowmorehepatitis/Media/PDFs/FactSheet-Boomers.pdf
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Whittier CA, please contact the caring staff at 1Heart Care Services today.
