Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. This can be caused by alcohol, drugs or infections. It may also be caused by a virus. There are two viral infections that commonly cause hepatitis - Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B 
                                                       

Hepatitis A

Typically this is a very mild infection, especially if you contract it when young. It is very uncommon for it to make you severely unwell but can make you feel off-colour for several weeks, so it is worth avoiding. Typical symptoms are feeling sick, jaundice (where the whites of the eyes and skin go yellow), itching, pain under the right side of the rib cage and generalised ‘flu-like symptoms.  It is caused by a virus and has always been felt to be spread by food or water which has been contaminated by faeces. It is particularly common to encounter Hepatitis A in this way during travel abroad, especially to areas such as north Africa. If you are travelling to one of these areas, consult your local travel clinic or GP.

Gay men are thought to be at higher risk than heterosexual people. This might be because of particular types of sex such as rimming or finger-anus contact, or sex in darkrooms or saunas. There seem to be breakouts from time to time in big cities. 

There is a vaccine available which is both safe and effective. It gives 95% protection for up to 10 years from two shots six months apart.

If you have been in contact with someone who has developed Hepatitis A and you haven’t had the vaccine there is an antibody injection you can be given which will prevent you developing the infection yourself.

Hepatitis B

Infection with Hepatitis B can be fairly mild too, but in a small number of people can cause a severe infection, even leading to liver failure requiring transplantation. It is caught in the same way as HIV but is far more infectious. It can be caught through kissing and oral sex as well as penetrative sex. 

The infection incubates for up to four months. Some people will not develop any symptoms. Others will experience similar effects to those detailed for Hepatitis A.

One in ten sufferers don’t completely clear the infection from their body. This means that they may continue to be infectious to other people. They are also at risk of the longer term effects of the virus. These include liver cirrhosis and - rarely - liver cancer.

Hepatitis B is preventable with a vaccine. All health care workers are routinely vaccinated. Other at risk groups include gay men. You get excellent protection with a shot at your first visit, followed by further injections at one month and six months. Usually a blood test is suggested after the final injection to ensure that the vaccine has worked, and a further booster may be required. As with Hepatitis A if you have been in contact with someone who has developed this infection, visit your GP or GUM clinic as they will arrange for you to have a protective antibody injection.

The vaccines themselves have hardly any reported side-effects and are well worth considering. Contact your local Sexual Health or Genitourinary Medicine clinic for details. Often they will run a vaccination clinic which means that you won’t have to wait to see a doctor and the service is totally confidential.