J
Is It That Time of Month?:
Hepatitis A, B, Non-A/Non-B
You pull yourself out of bed, groaning
and aching, and feeling like crap. You
had a good time at the bar last night, but
really didn* t party any heartier than
usual. So you pop two or three aspirins,
squirt some Visine in your eyes, and
prepare for the day ahead, thinking your
"hangover" will be gone by lunchtime.
But it isn't. You feel just as lousy
three days later as you did that first
morning. There's no energy, no appetite,
a slight fever, nausea, perhaps pain in
the joints and a sore throat. A few days
later your urine may turn dark and your
stool a light color. After that, you may
begin to take on a slight "glow," with a
sickly yellow hue to your skin and the
whites of your eyes.
What do you do? Pick up the phone and
give the doctor a call! You have the
S5miptoms of hepatitis.
Hepatitis—an inflammation of the
liver—is a serious disease which can
affect anyone in the general population.
But, just as with some other afflictions,
gays are particularly hard hit, due to our
proclivity for "intimacies" with several
partners. This disease is actually three
different diseases, all with some common
S3miptoms and consequences.
TYPE A HEPATITIS
Type A Hepatitis—"infectious
hepatitis"—is, by far, less dangerous
than the other two types. The virus that
carries Hepatitis A lives in the intes
tinal tract and is passed in the infected
person's feces. This virus can be intro
duced into a person's digestive system
(and ultimately to the liver) by contami
nated fingers in the mouth, anal-oral
contact, contaminated penis to mouth, or a
number of other ways. H-A does not cause
chronic liver disease, does cause an
immunity against further H-A developing in
its "victim," and, once the infection is
gone, cannot be transmitted from the
formerly—infected person to anyone else.
Treatment for exposure to H-A includes a
gamma globulin shot, which is very
inexpensive, and abstaining from drugs and
nlcohol for a doctor—specified time.
TYPE B HEPATITIS
Type B, or "serum hepatitis," was
Originally believed to be transmitted only
during a blood transfusion from an
infected person or by the use of a syringe
that had been used on an infected person.
It has been learned that the guilty virus
is in other body fluids—saliva, semen,
nrine—as well as the blood. Anal inter
course and deep "French" kissing can
transfer H-B, H-B is dangerous. It can
Survive in the body for years, wreck the
liver, and infect large numbers of people
over a period of time# Infected persons
can remain carriers of H-B for as long as
they live. Five to ten percent of gay men
may be chronic carriers of H-B and not
even know that they've had the disease,
since sometimes the symptoms are so mild
they're never even noticed.
Treatment for exposure to H-B, though
the same as for H-A, is different. Gamma
globulin is still used, but it's a dif
ferent kind and much more costly. Again,
abstinence from alcohol and many drugs is
a must.
VACCINE FOR HEPATITIS-B
Now, finally, for some good news! In
1982, Merck Sharp & Dohme introduced a new
drug: Heptavax-B, Made frdm the blood of
H-B carriers, Heptavax-B is a vaccine for
H-B and has proven to be very successful.
The vaccine is expensive—but well worth
the cost—and very limited in supply. A
series of three shots over a period of six
months constitutes the vaccination, which
may provide immunity for up to five years.
The vaccination has not been known to have
any serious side-effects. More good news:
the Heptavax-B vaccination is available at
the Student Health Service. This is a
preventive measure, however, and will not
"cure" chronic carriers.
HEPATITIS NON-A/NON-B
The "newest" type of hepatitis. Hepa
titis Non-A/Non-B, is still somewhat of a
mystery. The only things known for sure
are that it is transmitted in blood, can
cause permanent liver damage, and that a
person can be a chronic carrier. A person
is diagnosed as having Hepatitis Non-
A/Non-B once H-A and H-B have been ruled
out by tests. Even though H-A type gamma
globulin may not be an effective treat
ment, it is used. It can do no harm,
after all.
Hepatitis in any form is a disease that
must be taken seriously, especially by
gays. It is important to recognize the
symptoms and get prompt medical attention.
If you don't have S3miptoms, it's still a
good idea to have a blood test for H-A,
H-B, and H Non-A/Non-B at least once a
year. If you've never had, or don't have,
H-B, a very wise move would be to have the
Heptavax-B vaccination.
Two good books dealing with hepatitis
and other gay-related health concerns are:
The Gay Health Guide by Robert L.
Rowan, M.D, and Paul J. Gillette,
Ph.D. (Little, Brown & Company) and
Gay Men's Health by Jeanne Kassler,
M.D. (Harper & Row)
-Ron .