Hepatitis
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Blood Bourne Virus by Jay Costa Miller & Robert Archer
What is a Blood - Borne Virus?
A blood-borne virus (BBV) is a virus that is transmitted by blood or body fluids that contain blood. Blood-borne viruses may be transmitted if blood, semen or vaginal fluids pass from a person who is infected with the virus into the bloodstream of another person via a break in the skin or mucous membrane. The most common being Hepatitis and HIV.
Hepatitis means inflammation (itis) of the liver (hepar), an irritation or swelling of the liver cells. There are many causes of hepatitis which include viral infections A, B and C that most of us have heard of, but also the disease also includes auto-immune hepatitis, fatty liver hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis and toxin induced hepatitis. Globally, it is estimated that around 250 million people are affected by hepatitis C. Moreover, an estimated 400 million people are chronic carriers of hepatitis B.
There are 5 main types of Viral Hepatitis Hep A, B, C, D and E all of which affect the liver. The liver is one of the most vital organs in the body, it is essentially a factory that is responsible for processing things like energy, bile, blood for clotting and removing toxins and drugs from the body.
Hepatitis A is caused by eating food and drinking water infected with a virus called HAV. It can also be caused by anal-oral contact during sex. While it can cause swelling and inflammation in the liver, it doesn't lead to chronic, or life long, disease. Almost everyone who gets hepatitis A has a full recovery.
Hepatitis B is caused by the virus HBV. It is spread by contact with an infected person's blood, semen,
or other body fluid. And, it is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). You can get hepatitis B by:
•Having unprotected sex (not using a condom) with an infected person.
•Sharing drug needles (for illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine or legal drugs like vitamins and steroids).
•Getting a tattoo or body piercing with dirty (unsterile) needles and tools that were used on someone else.
•Getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on i
•Sharing a toothbrush, razor, or other personal items with an infected person.
•An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth or through her breast milk.
•Through a bite from another person.
With hepatitis B, the liver also swells. Hepatitis B can be a serious infection that can cause liver damage, which may result in cancer. Some people are not able to get rid of the virus, which makes the infection chronic, or life long. Blood banks test all donated blood for hepatitis B, greatly reducing the risk for getting the virus from blood transfusions or blood products.
Hepatitis C is caused by the virus HCV. It is spread the same way as hepatitis B, through contact with an infected person's blood, semen, or body fluid (see above). Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C causes swelling of the liver and can cause liver damage that can lead to cancer. Most people who have hepatitis C develop a chronic infection. This may lead to a scarring of the liver, called Cirrhosis. Blood banks test all donated blood for hepatitis C, greatly reducing the risk for getting the virus from blood transfusions or blood products.