TRENTON - May 19 is the third national Hepatitis Testing Day, and as part of Hepatitis Awareness Month, the Department of Health is working to raise awareness by reminding residents that hepatitis can seriously affect their health and those at risk should get tested for the disease.
Hepatitis, defined as inflammation of the liver, is most often caused by one of several viruses. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. These diseases can lead to serious health consequences, including liver damage or liver cancer.
'Parents need to ensure that infants are given the first in a series of hepatitis B vaccines before they leave the hospital,' said Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd. 'It is the best way to protect children from a disease that may cause life-long health complications.'
Hepatitis A and B can be prevented with safe and effective vaccines.
The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all children between 12 and 23 months and for adults who may be at increased risk. Cases of hepatitis A have dramatically declined in the United States over the last 20 years due to vaccination efforts.
Hepatitis A is usually spread through contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by an infected person.
Hepatitis B infection is spread through blood and body fluids. People can be infected when they have sexual contact or share needles and other drug equipment with an infected person. Hepatitis B can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby at birth.
The Hepatitis B vaccine series is recommended for all infants starting at birth and for adults who may be at increased risk. The risk for chronic infection varies according to the age at infection and is greatest among young children. Approximately 90 percent of infants and between 25 and 50 percent of children ages 1-5 years will remain chronically infected with HBV. By contrast, approximately 95 percent of adults recover completely from HBV infection and do not become chronically infected.
Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood through sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs, needlestick injuries in health care settings, being born to a mother with hepatitis C, or sharing personal care items with an infected person.
Free hepatitis testing will be available to residents at events taking place during Hepatitis Awareness Month. Information on events in New Jersey is available at: http://www.cdcnpin.org/HTD/HTD.aspx.