This is a good question. "Hepatitis" refers to inflammation of the liver. The "A," "B," and "C" designations refer to different causes of the inflammation.Hepatitis A
is a virus transmitted through the stool of infected people. Hepatitis A is the type of hepatitis you get when someone doesn't wash their hands after going to the bathroom and then prepares food, which you subsequently eat. In a healthy adult, Hepatitis A infection usually doesn't require any treatment. It clears up on its own over the course of weeks to months and doesn't cause any long-term problems.
also is caused by a virus, but it's a distinctly different virus than the one that causes Hep-A. Hepatitis B is transmitted through unprotected sex, unsterilized tattoo needles, shared drug needles, and so on. Many people who get Hep-B don't even know they have it. It often clears up and goes away without treatment. If a person has been immunized against Hep-B and has a sufficient level of antibodies in their system, they can't get the virus even through unprotected sex. A doctor can do a simple blood test for Hep-B antibodies to determine if a person has (or had) Hepatitis B or if they've had the vaccination for it.Hepatitis C
is spread only through direct contact with infected blood. It's unlikely to get Hepatitis C through unprotected sex. Hep-C is most commonly spread by the shared use of infected needles when injecting illegal drugs. Hep-C also can be spread through the re-use of contaminated tattoo needles and piercing equipment.
So, to answer your question, if your brother-in-law has Hepatitis C, it's unlikely he could transmit that through unprotected sex. On the other hand, Hepatitis B is commonly spread through sexual relations.
Please remind your friend and your brother-in-law to always practice safe sex. Hepatitis is just one of many potential sexually transmitted diseases a person can contract from having unprotected sex. Diseases like genital herpes and human papillomavirus are incurable. It's not worth the risk.
Best to you!
This answer should not be considered medical advice...This answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.
Thanks for your feedback.
13 of 15 found this helpful