The straight facts about hepatitis vaccinations

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. There are five types of viral hepatitis: A, B, C, D and E. The viruses all head for the liver. If they gain a toehold, they infiltrate liver cells and turn them into virus-producing factories. Fortunately, there are vaccinations that can help you in the case that you contract hepatitis.

• Hepatitis A and E is caused by ingesting food or water contaminated by stool from an infected person or through some other contact with an infected person's stool, such as during diaper changing or shaking hands with someone who didn't wash after using the bathroom.
• Hepatitis B and D is contracted through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person, sharing needles or drugs, or getting stuck by an infected needle. These viruses can also be passed from mother to infant during childbirth.
• Hepatitis C: Exposure to infected blood products or sharing needles. It can also be passed from mother to infant during childbirth.

Recommended for all children between 12 and 23 months, travellers to countries where the virus is prevalent, homosexual men, users of IV and injectable drugs, people with blood disorders like hemophilia that often require transfusions, those with chronic liver disease and those who work with the virus in laboratory settings. The vaccine requires two doses given six to 12 months apart in children, and six to 18 months apart in adults. Studies suggest it could last up to 25 years or more.

Recommended for all infants and anyone who works in the healthcare field. If you're under 19 and have never been vaccinated, do it now. The vaccine is also recommended for homosexual men, heterosexual people who have had a sexually transmitted disease or more than one partner in the previous six months, and those travelling to areas of the world with high rates of infection. It's typically given in three doses over six months, though a few studies find that a shorter dosing schedule is also effective — maybe more effective. The protection lasts for at least 15 years but in most cases is believed to be lifelong.  This vaccine also protects against hepatitis D. People infected with hepatitis B should be started on treatment as early as possible, even before they show signs of liver damage. Doing so may help prevent the damage.

Three combination vaccines protect against both hepatitis A and B. Two of them are for infants and young children; the third is for adults. The vaccine is given either three times in six months or three times in 30 days, followed by a fourth at one year.

Infection may initially go unnoticed or feel like a mild case of the flu. With serious infection, you may experience jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, fever and dark urine. Hepatitis B infection may also cause skin rashes, joint pain and arthritis.

Hepatitis is a serious illness and if left untreated can be deadly. Vaccinations can help so it's important to keep your vaccinations up to date.