Viruses, which cause the different types of the disease, must be prevented from getting in the bloodstream. Only in this way, the disease can be prevented. The virus can be prevented from reaching another one's bloodstream in several ways. However, the virus can also be treating indirectly using vaccinations. This method is decreasing the spread of the different types of viruses significantly.

 

There are currently no vaccinations for treating the HCV, HDV and

HEV.  These viruses cause the forms of hepatitis, C, D and E. So,

these forms of the disease can't be prevented yet using vaccinations.

However, hepatitis A and B can be prevented using this technique.

 A combination of Havrix, only used for HAV, and Engerix, only used

for HBV, vaccination is used to treat both the HAV and HBV. This

combination vaccination is called Twinrix. It is an active vaccination,

which means that a dead or weak virus of hepatitis A and B will enter

the bloodstream. Because it’s dead or weak, the antibodies will have

enough time to find a match for the antigen of the HAV and HBV,

because the virus grows very slowly. Eventually, the virus will stop

growing completely. The advantage of this type of vaccination is that

after the antigen of the virus is recognized by the antibodies, the

patient will stay immune for the virus. This is because a memory b-cell

in the body will recognize which antibody must be made for what

antigens from what pathogens. The disadvantage of this method of

vaccination is that, relatively, it will take a lot of time for the virus to

stop growing.

 

Hepatitis B immunoglobulin is used for direct and quick protection against the HBV. This means that it is a passive vaccine. This means that antibodies are being provided to the patient in the bloodstream, so that they can immediately find the antigen of the virus which will cause it now to grow anymore. This type of vaccination is used when the virus grows really rapidly and thus when there is no time for the antibodies, in the case of an active vaccination, to be made against the antigens of for the virus. The advantage of this type of vaccination is that the virus will stop growing quickly. The disadvantage is that the patient won’t become immune to the virus.

 

Viruses of the hepatitis disease can be on all places which have made contact with blood of another person, because the viruses van be found in the blood of someone. So, objects which have made contact with the blood of a certain person with hepatitis need to be prevented regarding contact. Some of these objects are needles and other sharp objects. Drugs-addicts, for example, need to look out for the spread of hepatitis, because they use several types of sharp needles used by many people, who can be carrier of the virus.

Viruses of the disease can also be transmitted by sex. So, it is of great importance that if a person has the virus, he/she does it safely with a condom.

 

In the last few years, there has been a great unexpected increase in hepatitis C among gay men in Europe. Sexual activities have caused the virus to be spread rapidly. So, also for gay men, condoms should be used during sex. For every time someone who is having sex with someone, the condom should be replaced. So, there must be one condom used per turn of sex with someone. If the period of time of sex is relatively (very) long, the condom must be replaced as well. Also, the lubricant of one man should not be in touch with other men. Gay men can also make use of sex toys. These must be disinfected regularly to prevent transmitting the virus as well. This can be done with 1-propanol, a certain type of alcohol.

 

Hepatitis isn’t a genetic disease, so the genetic information (DNA) doesn’t decide on if you have the virus or not. When a pregnant woman is infected with the virus, the virus moves through the bloodstream through the placenta to the foetus’ bloodstream, infecting the foetus with the virus, thus the disease. So, if the mother of the future baby prevents the virus from entering her bloodstream, the virus can't get into the baby's bloodstream.