Hepatitis B and C

Most people infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C have no symptoms.

If symptoms show up, those of hepatitis B are:

• fatigue;
• fever;
• stomach pains;
• loss of appetite;
• spells of nausea with or without vomiting;
• sometimes jaundice.

If symptoms show up, those of hepatitis C are:

• fatigue;
• loss of appetite;
• nausea or stomach ache
• in some cases, jaundice.

Consequence of hepatitis B and C for health:

• You can develop cirrhosis or cancer of the liver.

Specific characteristics of hepatitis B:

• Very often, the hepatitis B virus disappears by itself and the infected person is then immunized against it. When it continues to be present in the organism, the person is said to be a “carrier” of the virus.
• If this person does not get better, he or she then becomes a carrier of the hepatitis B virus and can transmit the infection for the rest of his or her life.

Specific characteristics of hepatitis C:

• Most persons infected by the hepatitis C virus will become carriers of the virus. In some cases, the virus sometimes disappears on its own.
• If this person does not get better, he or she then becomes a carrier of the hepatitis C virus and can transmit the infection for the rest of his or her life.

Screening

The screening test for hepatitis B and C is carried out by means of a blood sample.

Treatment of hepatitis B

Treatments can limit the seriousness of the infection and sometimes allow recovery.

Treatment of hepatitis C

In the chronic carrier, treatments can limit the seriousness of the infection and, quite often allow it to be cured.

• There is a vaccine against hepatitis B but none against hepatitis C.
• When you have sexual intercourse, use a condom.
  • A condom must be used before any contact of the penis with the mouth, the vagina or the anus.
  • A condom must be used from start to finish of sexual intercourse.
• To avoid blood-borne transmission, the best thing is still obviously not to inject or inhale drugs.
• If you consume drugs by injection or inhalation, avoid reuse of equipment.