Travel Clinic - Know your Hepatitis Alphabet

Hepatitis A, B, and C – it's hard to know which is which: a travel clinic can explain to you the risks.

There are a number of hepatitides that humans are at risk from. The illness is focused on the liver, taken from the Greek (heapto) for liver, and 'itis' for inflammation. It can be a chronic condition of it lasts for longer than six months. A travel clinic will tell you the hepatitis viruses are the source of most liver damage cases worldwide. It can also be a result of alcohol or other toxins – if hepatitis is acute the patient will feel unwell as the liver functions are impaired and the organ is no longer able to remove harmful substances from the body.

Travel Clinic: Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is often transmitted as a result of contaminated food, such as raw seafood or contaminated water, or as a result of sexual intercourse. If you contract Hepatitis A, it's advised you avoid alcohol and take plenty of rest. If you are concerned about contamination, a travel clinic can provide a vaccine that will safeguard you for up to ten years. Third world countries and developing countries pose a particular risk – your travel clinic will advise you on steps you can take to reduce the risk of infection (avoiding raw food, drinking bottled water). Most people recover within two months.

Travel Clinic: Hepatitis B

Around 15% of people who contract Hepatitis B develop chronic Hepatitis B if they are unable to get rid of the virus after infection. It's caught through blood transfusions, tattoos, intercourse, breast feeding and through blood/ bodily fluids. Once more, ask at your travel clinic about the vaccination that is available to safeguard you for life from the virus. It's thought up to over a million people die a year around the world as a result of the virus. A travel clinic will warn you of the areas where the virus in endemic, such as South-East Asia.

Although hepatitis A through to hepatitis E can be a result of alcohol or pharmaceutical drugs, it is more commonly contracted as a virus. Hepatitis B for example is vaccinated against in a travel clinic for those heading to countries where they are most at risk, such as Japan.

Travel Clinic: Hepatitis C

This virus is also transmitted through blood and can result in cirrhosis of the liver. If you have the virus you need to be immunized against hepatitis A and B, as catching either will leave you more vulnerable to severe hepatitis.

Choose CityDoc for all your Travel Clinic needs

At CityDoc, you can book over the phone or walk into one of our travel clinics for a same-day appointment. Don't travel abroad without ensuring that you've had the right vaccinations. CityDoc provides a complete travel clinic service, customized to your individual needs. Our pre-travel consultations are with experienced General Practitioners who will assess the impact of any pre-existing chronic medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. We have the full range of travel vaccines in stock including rarer vaccines such as Japanese Encephalitis. CityDoc is a registered yellow fever centre and is able to dispense anti-malarials directly from our in house pharmacy for your added convenience. Choose from our three travel clinic locations in London and Birmingham for ease of access.