Hepatitis & Liver Infections

Hepatitis A and E spread through contaminated water and food — usually cause short illness that resolves. Hepatitis B and C spread through blood, sexual contact, and (for B) mother to child — can become chronic and cause liver cirrhosis or cancer. Hepatitis D only occurs with B. Vaccines exist for A and B, not for C. Testing for hepatitis B is worth doing at least once in adulthood; C testing is recommended for anyone with risk factors.

Through blood (needle sharing, unscreened blood transfusions, tattoos and piercings with unsterile equipment), sexual contact, and from mother to baby at birth. It doesn't spread through casual contact, sharing food, or coughing. India has significant hepatitis B prevalence — the childhood vaccine has reduced this dramatically but many adults born before universal vaccination remain unvaccinated.

Yes — modern direct-acting antiviral drugs cure over 95% of hepatitis C cases with 8-12 weeks of oral medication. This is one of the biggest treatment advances of the last decade. The challenge is finding people who have it, since it's silent for years. Anyone with risk factors (blood transfusion before 2001, injection drug use, healthcare exposure, tattoos with unsterile equipment) should get tested.

Most people don't — chronic hepatitis is silent for years. Vague symptoms like fatigue, poor appetite, or mild upper right abdominal discomfort may appear late. Diagnosis is by blood test (hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody). Anyone with elevated liver enzymes on a routine test, or with risk factors, should be tested. Early diagnosis lets treatment start before serious liver damage.

Yes — for hepatitis B, close family members (spouse, children, and household contacts) should be tested and vaccinated if negative. For hepatitis C, testing sexual partners and anyone who shared needles is recommended. Casual household contact doesn't spread these viruses; children shouldn't be treated differently at home. Awareness prevents transmission and enables early treatment.