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Am I At Risk For Hepatatis If I Have A
Question: Am I at risk for Hepatatis if I have a homeless person sit next to me in my car? Assuming the homeless person has hepatitis.
If after I got out of the car and drove and then ate my lunch will I be at risK?
If after I got out of the car and drove and then ate my lunch will I be at risK?
Brief Answer:
Hepatitis A can be transmitted in these circumstances but not hepatitis B and C
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
Hepatitis can be caused mostly by 3 viruses, hepatitis A, B, and C.
Hepatitis B and C are transmitted only by sexual intercourse and blood contact so they are impossible to be transmitted by just being in a space together with someone that is infected unless through blood contact or sexual intercourse.
As for hepatitis A, this is an infection that can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route. This means that a person that has this infection may transmit it through his hands or saliva if these get in contact with another person.
For instance, if the person that has hepatitis A, touches the handle of the car or other areas and you touch these areas afterward and soon after you eat something then you may get infected. Also, if the patient drinks through a glass and you drink through the same glass you may get the infection.
Hepatitis A, on the other hand, is an acute infection, with jaundice, weakness, abdominal pain, fever, low appetite. It lasts a few weeks and heals completely within a month, without any need for further treatments (it does not become a chronic infection as it happens with hepatitis B and C). So, it is not as worrisome as hepatitis B and C.
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Hepatitis A can be transmitted in these circumstances but not hepatitis B and C
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
Hepatitis can be caused mostly by 3 viruses, hepatitis A, B, and C.
Hepatitis B and C are transmitted only by sexual intercourse and blood contact so they are impossible to be transmitted by just being in a space together with someone that is infected unless through blood contact or sexual intercourse.
As for hepatitis A, this is an infection that can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route. This means that a person that has this infection may transmit it through his hands or saliva if these get in contact with another person.
For instance, if the person that has hepatitis A, touches the handle of the car or other areas and you touch these areas afterward and soon after you eat something then you may get infected. Also, if the patient drinks through a glass and you drink through the same glass you may get the infection.
Hepatitis A, on the other hand, is an acute infection, with jaundice, weakness, abdominal pain, fever, low appetite. It lasts a few weeks and heals completely within a month, without any need for further treatments (it does not become a chronic infection as it happens with hepatitis B and C). So, it is not as worrisome as hepatitis B and C.
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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