Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, and it’s often caused by a viral infection. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are
hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. However, 9 out of 10 of people with hepatitis don’t know they have it. This creates the possibility
for millions of people to spread the infection to others without knowing, or to develop fatal liver cancer.
Here are four ways that hepatitis B and hepatitis C are
commonly spread:
Sharing contaminated equipment used to inject drugs
Receiving blood transfusions
During childbirth from mother to infant
Sharing razors or toothbrushes
Tattooing or body piercing done without adequately sterilized equipment
Through sexual contact and having unprotected sex with an infected person