A risk factor is something that raises the chances of getting a health problem. Hepatitis spreads from exposure to contaminated:
- Body fluids:
- Stool
- Blood
- Semen
- Vaginal fluid
- Saliva
- Food
- Water
- Animals
- Items
Things that raise the risk of hepatitis are:
- Working in daycare, healthcare, or public safety
- Not washing hands well—especially after:
- Changing a diaper or
- Using the bathroom
- Close contact with someone who has or carries hepatitis
- Certain sexual behaviors, such as:
- Men who have sex with men
- Anal sex, or oral to anal sex
- Having many sex partners
- Having sex with someone who has a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- People who use IV drugs or share needles
- Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B, C, or E
- Exposure to items that are not correctly sterilized such as:
- Medical equipment
- Tattoo or body piercing tools
- Being in countries with:
- Poor sanitation
- Raw sewage, or
- Untreated water
Having certain health conditions or procedures such as:
- Getting blood transfusions, blood products, or organ transplants—mainly before 1992
- Dialysis to treat kidney disease
- Ongoing higher than normal liver function tests
- A weak immune system—from a disease or treatment
- An STI or HIV
References
Acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hepatitis-a-virus-hav-infection. Accessed May 2, 2022.
Acute hepatitis C infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/acute-hepatitis-c-infection. Accessed May 2, 2022.
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chronic-hepatitis-b-virus-hbv-infection. Accessed April 18, 2019.
Chronic hepatitis C infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chronic-hepatitis-c-infection. Accessed May 2, 2022.
Hepatitis C—treatment of genotype 1. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/hepatitis-c-treatment-of-genotype-1. Accessed May 2, 2022.
Hepatitis C—treatment of genotypes 2-6. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/hepatitis-c-treatment-of-genotypes-2-6. Accessed May 2, 2022.
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hepatitis-d-virus-hdv-infection. Accessed May 2, 2022.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hepatitis-e-virus-hev-infection Accessed May 2, 2022.
Overview of acute viral hepatitis. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hepatic-and-biliary-disorders/hepatitis/overview-of-acute-viral-hepatitis. Accessed May 2, 2022.
Overview of chronic hepatitis. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hepatic-and-biliary-disorders/hepatitis/overview-of-chronic-hepatitis. Accessed May 2, 2022.
Thuener J. Hepatitis A and B infections. Prim Care. 2017;44(4):621-629.