I have had hepatitis. How do I find out what type (A,B,C,D) I had? Is there a hepatitis registry?

Answer 1

well, it would not be hepatitis a because that is a disease that runs it's course and then your done (unless you get food poisoning again).
hepatitis b-you can be chronic or a carrier
hepatitis c- is usually just chronic. about 15% of those that have hepatitis c built up antibodies and is just a carrier (non active)-however, i don't particulary believe in "just carrying" the hepatitis c as it runs its see-saw course as a natural conciquence.
hepatitis d you will not have unless you are infected with hepatitis b.
hepatitis e and d are rare in the united states.

people don't understand a lot about hepatitis. you are usually only yellow (bilirium and toxic waste build up) when the disease is acute (fast acting). hepatitis c can take years and even decades before you notice really serious side effects. hcv was thought of as a symptomatic, however, the more research being done indicates that many have bi-directional diseases associated with having hcv and liver damage does not have to be more pronounced to have bi-directional diseases.
doctors only run standard blood labs and if your alt and ast levels appear normal (many with active hcv have this occurance) means you are not sick.
the only way to find out about hepatitis b or c is to be tested for antibodies, even if you have no known risk factors (especially for hepatitis c).

make an appointment with your gastro and go from there.
the sooner the better. chances are you will need antiviral chemotherapy if you have b or c.

if you are a veteran, your risk for c is much much higher due to mass innoculations, however, you can acquire hcv just seeing dentists before 1994. ( i say 1995 just to be sure). there are many other ways of contracting hcv, but it only happens when there is blood to blood transmission. hcv is not a "true std". hcv corpuscles are not the active forms of hcv (this is found in semen and vaginal fluid.)

you could also have a form of hepatitis not relative to viral infections, this type is caused by hereditary factors. NASH and auto-immune hepatitis as well as a few others. the only way to tell is to ask your doctor. he will know how to run the correct testing.
good luck.

Answer 2

You can find out by having further bloodwork. You should have a hepatitis panel done, where they will look for antibodies for the different types of hepatitis. Whatever antibodies you have, they will need to do the next step in blood tests; for example: if you have HCV antibodies, then you will need a viral load to see if you were one of the 15% that clear the virus spontaneously or if you have chronic, active hep c. Most people go on to have chronic infection. Then a genotype test is needed to see which subtype you have. That test determines how long you will need treatment. Hepatitis is treatable. You should be vaccinated against Hep A & B if you don't have the antibodies. You don't want your liver to be attacked by another form of hepatitis; that could be deadly. There is no vaccine for Hep C, but if you're vaccinated against B, it also protects you against Hep D because D needs B in order to survive. Hepatitis A is never chronic, so if that's what you had, you are protected against getting it again and won't need the vaccine. Hope this helps you.

Answer 3

How do you know you HAVE hepatitis.If you go to the Dr and have a hepatitis screen it will tell what kind of hepatitis YOU have.You don't get over hepatitis like it is a cold it goes into remission.Has the people around you been tested they need to be.It is easier to spread than aids so if you are sure you have the sickness you and the people you have had contact with needs to be checked.Just a blood test.And why do you want a registry it is not a crime or something to tell the world about.

Answer 4

you can find out from the doctor that diagnosed you with the hepatitis. Hepatitis A is the only one that goes away. Also there is a blood test a doctor can do that shows which type your body made antibodies against.

Answer 5

If the doc said you have hepatitis and that's all he said that means you have A which is infectious and runs its course in about 6 weeks. It's kind of like having the flu only it last longer. I don't think there is a registry for that.

Answer 6

I don't think hepatitis goes away. If you had it, you still have it. You should call your doctor, who would have that on record.

Answer 7

There are usually ways to determine. For example, You cannot have Hep D without Hep B, Hep. D's genome lacks essential genes.

Hepatitis A or infectious jaundice is an enterovirus transmitted by the orofecal route, transmitted to humans through methods such as contaminated food. It causes an acute form of hepatitis and does not have a chronic stage. The patient's immune system makes antibodies against hepatitis A that confer immunity against future infection. People with hepatitis A are advised to rest, stay hydrated and avoid alcohol. A vaccine is available that will prevent infection from hepatitis A for life. It can be spread through personal contact, consumption of raw sea food or drinking contaminated water. Hepatitis A is primarily spread in third world countries, and can also be more often found in southern Europe than in northern and western Europe. Hepatitis A is transmitted fecal-orally, generally by ingesting contaminated water or food. Strict personal hygiene and the avoidance of raw and unpeeled foods can help prevent an infection. Infected persons already begin excreting the hepatitis A virus with their stool two weeks after the appearance of the first symptoms. The time between the infection and the start of the illness can run from 15 to 45 days, and approximately 15% of sufferers may experience relapsing symptoms from six months to a year following initial diagnosis.

Hepatitis B can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis develops in the 15% of patients who are unable to eliminate the virus after an initial infection. Identified methods of transmission include blood (blood transfusion, now rare), tattoos (both amateur and professionally done), horizontally (sexually or through contact with blood or bodily fluids), or vertically (from mother to her unborn child). However, in about half of cases the source of infection cannot be determined. Blood contact can occur by sharing syringes in intravenous drug use, shaving accessories such as razor blades, or touching wounds on infected persons. Needle-exchange programmes have been created in many countries as a form of prevention. In the United States, 95% of patients clear their infection and develop antibodies against hepatitis B virus. 5% of patients do not clear the infection and develop chronic infection; only these people are at risk of long term complications of hepatitis B.

Patients with chronic hepatitis B have antibodies against hepatitis B, but these antibodies are not enough to clear the infection that establishes itself in the DNA of the affected liver cells. The continued production of virus combined with antibodies is a likely cause of immune complex disease seen in these patients. A vaccine is available that will prevent infection from hepatitis B for life. Hepatitis B infections result in 500,000 to 1,200,000 deaths per year worldwide due to the complications of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B is endemic in a number of (mainly South-East Asian) countries, making cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma big killers. There are three, FDA-approved treatment options available for persons with a chronic hepatitis B infection: alpha-interferon, adefovir and lamivudine. In about 45% of persons on treatment achieve a sustained response.

Hepatitis C (originally "non-A non-B hepatitis") can be transmitted through contact with blood (including through sexual contact). Hepatitis C may lead to a chronic form of hepatitis, culminating in cirrhosis. It can remain asymptomatic for 10-20 years. No vaccine is available for hepatitis C. Patients with hepatitis C are prone to severe hepatitis if they contract either hepatitis A or B, so all hepatitis C patients should be immunized against hepatitis A and hepatitis B if they are not already immune. However, hepatitis C itself is a very lethal virus and can cause cirrhosis of the liver. The virus, if detected early on can be treated by a combination of interferon and the antiviral drug ribavirin. The genotype of the virus determines the rate of response to this treatment regimen.

Hepatitis E produces symptoms similar to hepatitis A, although it can take a fulminant course in some patients, particularly pregnant women; it is more prevalent in the Indian subcontinent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis