Hepatitis A (HAV) is caused by a virus found in feces (people's stool). You can get it by coming in contact with infected feces. The most common way is by swallowing food or liquids that get contaminated by hands that are not washed thoroughly after using the toilet. You can also get Hepatitis A through sexual acts like 'rimming' (licking someone's anus) or via oral sex on a male's penis after he has had anal sex.

Although Hepatitis A, B, and C are all viruses that damage the liver, they are all different and otherwise unrelated. Hepatitis A is spread through ingesting fecal matter (e.g. through changing diapers and not washing hands, performing oral to anal sex, eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, etc.). It is an acute infection that can make people extremely sick shortly after contracting the disease. Once people clear the virus, they cannot be reinfected.

Hepatitis A virus is spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. This type of transmission is called "fecal-oral." HBV is spread when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected.

Yes. Although many people who are exposed to hepatitis B will be able to get rid of the virus, some people develop chronic (life-long) hepatitis B. This may lead to liver damage, liver cancer and death. Hepatitis B carriers are people who are infected with HBV and never recover fully from the infection; they carry the virus and can infect others for the rest of their lives. In the United States, about one million people carry HBV.

Yes. Cocaine abusers, especially those who inject, are at increased risk for contracting such infectious diseases as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) and hepatitis. In fact, use and abuse of illicit drugs, including crack cocaine, have become the leading risk factors for new cases of HIV. Drug abuse-related spread of HIV can result from direct transmission of the virus through the sharing of contaminated needles and paraphernalia between injecting drug users.

It is possible to be co-infected with HIV or hepatitis B, primarily because these two diseases are spread in the same manner as hepatitis C.

Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food and water. Hepatitis A is present in the U.S. The vaccine for Hepatitis A is very effective. You would get your first shot at the time of your visit and that will give immunity for 1 year. A booster at 6-12 months will give you long term protection. Hepatitis B is spread through blood and body fluids.

No. Hepatitis A, B, and C are all different viruses. The hepatitis C virus is spread through body fluids, and although it can be transmitted through sexual contact, it is most commonly acquired through injection drug use. Unfortunately, there is no hepatitis C vaccine at this time.

The decision to be tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C is not always simple. The tests are easy, but the test results could affect your life in ways you did not expect. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of testing. Consider the following when making your decision: If you get tested and are found to have hepatitis, you could face a hard decision about treatment. Treatment for hepatitis C may have serious side effects for the 6 to 12 months or longer that it takes.

Yes, you should get a blood test to check for HBV infection early in your pregnancy. This test is called hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). If you test HBsAg-negative early in pregnancy, but continue behaviors that put you at risk for HBV infection (e.g., multiple sex partners, injection drug use), you should be retested for HBsAg close to delivery. If your HBsAg test is positive, this means you are infected with HBV and can give the virus to your baby.

Ask your doctor to make sure your baby gets a shot called HBIG and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Once your baby has this shot, it is safe to breastfeed your baby. But it is also important to make sure your baby completes all the hepatitis B vaccine doses, and is tested to make sure he or she is protected.

It is always a good idea to get screened for Hepatitis A or B antibodies before you get vaccinated to make sure you aren't already infected. Any health provider should be able to screen you or provide you with the vaccines. Some clinics will only vaccinate you if you are a certain age, if you ask, or if you are a regular patient.