It's a disease with the potential to destroy a human's liver. Yet many people unknowingly carry the virus and possibly infect others. It's the largest organ in the body and is responsible for regulating chemicals in the bloodstream. Often, raw shellfish harvested from sewage-tainted water can cause hepatitis. There is a vaccine available to protect against the disease.
Chronic cases can lead to scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
There may be no symptoms, but some individuals feel fatigued, have muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and notice changes in the color of urine and stools. There is a vaccine available to guard against the disease. Hepatitis B is spread through contact with bodily fluids. Like hepatitis B, it can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. There is no vaccine for the virus, and it responds to antiviral medications only in rare cases.