Saturday, January 8, 2011

Hepatitis Spread Through Sexual Behavior

Most of the five hepatitis viruses can be transmitted through sex. There are, however significant differences in how they spread and the risk of exposure during sexual contact. Here is a brief explanation about your risk of hepatitis from sex for any type of virus.

Hepatitis A
It is estimated that about 20 percent of hepatitis A infection spread through some form of sexual contacts. Hepatitis A virus is spread from the feces of people infected with hepatitis A virus (fecal-oral spread). After oral-anal sex with someone who is infected with hepatitis A virus can cause you to get Hepatitis A. Although everyone may be exposed to hepatitis A (who is not infected already have immunity because of previous vaccination infection) of men who have sex with other men and people who have had oral-anal sexual relations increase the risk of exposure to hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B
Sexual intercourse is a very common way of spread of hepatitis B. Nearly two of every three cases of acute in the United States caused by sexual exposure. It is possible for the hepatitis B virus to exist in several body fluids, including semen, vaginal fluids, and of course, blood.
HCV
You can be exposed to the hepatitis C virus during sexual contact with an infected person, but this is not common. Virus increases your risk if you have sex with more than one person, have a STD (sexually transmitted diseases), have rough sex, or HIV.

HDV
You can be exposed to the hepatitis D virus (HDV) through sexual contacts. HDV, which spreads through contact with infected blood, such as the spread of hepatitis B. However, HDV can not cause infection by itself. This can only cause disease in people already infected with hepatitis B. Therefore, if you have hepatitis D, you also have hepatitis B (You can, though, have hepatitis B without hepatitis D).

Hepatitis E
The Hepatitis E virus (HEV) spread, in many ways, such as hepatitis A virus. Both can be spread from an infected person to someone who is not infected by the fecal-oral route and both can contaminate water or food supply, causing community outbreaks. However, in contrast to hepatitis A (according to the World Health Organization), hepatitis E is not easily spread from person-to-person (eg by shaking hands) and no evidence that HEV spread of sexual contacts. Hepatitis E is very uncommon in the United States.

Kissing and Hepatitis Risk Exposure
Most types of kisses are not at high risk for the spread of hepatitis. However, there may be a kiss that increases the risk of spread, particularly in viral hepatitis B.

Prevent the Spread of Sexually
You can take some effective measures to reduce the risk of infection through sexual spread, and in some cases, avoid completely. Avoiding oral-anal contact and direct contact with infected blood, vaginal fluids, semen and saliva is a very safe approach to prevent exposure. However, there are ways that are less strict would significantly reduce the risk of exposure during sex.
Vaccination is an effective way to prevent contamination by the virus that causes hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis D (hepatitis D does not have a specific vaccine, but can be prevented with hepatitis B vaccine). Other effective strategy to reduce risk exposure is to use a condom when having sex, especially with someone who has viral hepatitis.

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