Hepatitis prevention, these are 9 attempts to prevent infection

The number of cases of hepatitis is quite high in developing countries, including Indonesia. One of the causes of this disease is a viral infection. Hepatitis due to viral infection can be transmitted to other people. So, what are the efforts to prevent hepatitis transmission?

Hepatitis prevention tips

Hepatitis caused by viruses is divided into five types, namely hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Both hepatitis due to viral and non-viral infections can cause uncomfortable symptoms, ranging from nausea to jaundice.

The good news is, you can follow the methods below as an effort to prevent hepatitis transmission. Here are some things that can be used to reduce the risk of hepatitis.

1. Prevention of hepatitis with vaccines

One of the prevention of hepatitis transmission is getting the hepatitis vaccine. Even so, so far only vaccines are available for two types of hepatitis viruses, namely hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

Vaccines are the most effective preventive way to reduce the number of hepatitis cases. The reason is, when the vaccine is given to people who are at risk of hepatitis, the body will be stimulated to make antibodies.

Then, these antibodies will play a role in fighting the hepatitis virus if they enter the body at any time.

Normally, both the hepatitis A vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine are obtained when you are a baby. However, adults or adolescents can also get vaccinated with an adjusted dose.

If you are pregnant, discuss it with your doctor first. The reason is, it is feared that vaccination can have an impact on the health of the fetus. This also applies when you have certain diseases or health conditions.

2. Wash your hands regularly

Apart from vaccines, you can also adopt a clean lifestyle. Maintaining cleanliness is the main key to prevention of hepatitis, especially types of hepatitis that have not had a vaccine, such as hepatitis C, D, and E.

One of the clean habits that need to be applied is washing your hands. Try to get in the habit of washing your hands when:

• before and after meals,
• after going to the bathroom, as well
• before and after processing food ingredients.

Routine hand washing can reduce the risk of hepatitis transmission, especially hepatitis A and hepatitis E. This is because the two types of hepatitis viruses can be transmitted from feces to food or drinks consumed.

That is why, washing hands with soap can at least reduce to eliminate viruses that stick to hands.

3. Use a condom during sex

Did you know that having sex with people with hepatitis, especially hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis D, is at risk of developing the same disease?

One of the transmissions of the hepatitis virus through sexual activity is hepatitis B. Look, hepatitis B can be transmitted through contact with infected body fluids, such as semen and vaginal fluids.

If you have sex with a partner who is exposed to hepatitis, you are at greater risk of developing hepatitis, especially when you are not using contraceptives. That is why it is important to know your partner's disease history as an effort to prevent hepatitis.

If your partner or partner's family has a history of hepatitis, you should have sexual intercourse, either anal or oral, with a condom.

4. Avoid sharing needles

Needles or other medical devices that are not sterile can be a means of spreading the hepatitis virus. You need to be vigilant, especially when working as a health worker who has direct contact with people with hepatitis.

The use of needles carelessly, such as needles when making tattoos or when using illegal drugs, can also be a medium for transmission of the virus.

Therefore, the next effort to prevent hepatitis is to avoid using needles. You will never know how the health condition of the person who used the needle before you, was exposed to an infectious disease or not.

5. Do not share personal hygiene with other people

Sharing with other people is not a bad thing. However, you still have to know when to share something with others.

For example, sharing toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, and other personal tools can increase the risk of hepatitis, especially hepatitis C. The reason is that infected people sometimes do not show symptoms of hepatitis.

If the person's blood gets stuck in one of your cleaning tools, it is possible that the virus can enter the body. As a result, the risk of contracting hepatitis also increases.

That is why, try to choose which items can be used together and which ones should be used alone as a way to prevent hepatitis.

6. Pay attention to the cleanliness of food and drinks

As previously explained, food and drink contaminated with the virus can be a route of hepatitis transmission. One type of hepatitis virus that is often transmitted through food and drink is hepatitis E.

You see, raw foods, especially shellfish, tend to be at risk of transmitting hepatitis. Try to eat foods and consume ripe drinks to prevent hepatitis.

Tips for cooking oyster shells so that they are cooked and avoid hepatitis, include:

• Cook the clams until their shells open.
• Simmer for five minutes and cook for another nine minutes.
• Boil the peeled oysters for three minutes.
• Fry in oil for 10 minutes at 190.5 ° C.
• Always wear protective gloves when cleaning raw clams.
• Separate raw seafood from other foods.

When you eat out, choose foods that are guaranteed to be cooked. Meanwhile, when traveling outside the city and sanitation in the surrounding environment is not clean, you should drink bottled mineral water.

7. Maintain liver health

Efforts to prevent hepatitis transmission must also be accompanied by maintaining liver health. The reason is, non-viral hepatitis, such as alcoholic hepatitis can occur due to excessive alcohol consumption, thus damaging the liver and triggering hepatitis.

There are a number of ways you can keep your liver healthy as a way to prevent hepatitis, including:

• stop drinking alcoholic beverages,
• quitting smoking to reduce the risk of hepatitis C,
• avoid excessive consumption of iron and vitamin A supplements,
• be careful when using herbal supplements, such as kava kava, as well
• maintain ideal body weight.

8. Preventing hepatitis transmission through blood transfusions

Recipients of blood donations or organ transplants are also at risk of developing hepatitis, especially hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Fortunately, this transmission medium is quite rare because before donating blood, you must first undergo tests.

The examination aims to see if the donor has a disease that can be transmitted through blood, such as hepatitis and HIV.

9. Know your own family medical history

By finding out your own family medical history related to hepatitis, you can be more vigilant and implement ways to prevent hepatitis more effectively. It also aims to be more careful about possible transmission.

If a family member has or is currently infected with hepatitis, you should do periodic checks to get a definite answer.

If you have any further questions, please contact your doctor for an appropriate solution.

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