Viral Hepatitis
“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be caused by many things but is most commonly caused by a virus. There are three types of viral hepatitis common in the US:
- Spreads when a person ingests fecal matter—even in microscopic amounts—from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by feces or stool from an infected person.
- Hepatitis B is primarily spread when blood, semen, or certain other body fluids– even in microscopic amounts – from a person infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.
- Hepatitis C is spread when blood – even in microscopic amounts – from a person infected with the hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.
This is one of the most common communicable diseases in LaSalle County.
Symptoms
Many people don’t experience any symptoms at all and most don’t even know they’re infected. Symptoms of hepatitis can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice.
This information was derived from information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website on Hepatitis.