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Michelle Le
Mrs. Scarpella
Period 2
English 2
30 May, 2013
Hepatitis A and B

Part 1 - What I Know, Assume, or Imagine is True and What I Want to Find Out (Intro)

What I know about Hepatitis A and B is that its more minor than Hepatitis C and D. The
root Hepat- means liver and -itis means inflammation, so
Hepatitis affiliates with the inflamed liver which is severe if
not treated because the organ produces bile which aids for
digestion. What can you do to treat it? I think you can watch
what you eat and choose a healthier lifestyle. How can you
contract this virus/disease? Well there can be many ways to
contract this disease or virus, but I think the most logical
explanation is what you consume because your waste goes to your liver then the bile springs
into action, and breaks down the waste. What are symptoms of Hepatitis A and B? The
symptoms are probably pain in the lower left quadrant and nausea. Hepatitis A and B sound like
stages just like the disease, Diabetes, so Im assuming Hepatitis is as serious and intense as
Diabetes.

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Part 2 - The Search (Body)

According to the website, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, It states that
Hepatitis is a group of viral infections that affect the liver. Hepatitis A and B are the most
common types to catch. Hepatitis A can be a painful and mild infection that lasts for about
roughly a month or even longer if not treated. When a person ingests any various food products
with fecal matter even in microscopic size are hidden leading to the risk of Hepatitis. The best and
most effective way to prevent it is to get a Hepatitis vaccination. While Hepatitis B can be passed
through by contact of fluids or sharing needles and/or any drug-injection equipment. Acute
Hepatitis is a short-term illness that may be slightly mild for a few weeks. Although acute rarely
becomes chronic, it is always safe to check. However, Chronic Hepatitis is a long-term disease
that stays within the body which can lead to other health problems, and possibly death

As stated by the Hepatitis B Foundation, 90% of infants and up to 50% of young

children infected with Hepatitis B will develop chronic infections. Therefore, vaccination is
essential to protect infants and children. Once again, according to the Hepatitis B Foundation,
Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than AIDS virus, yet it can prevented with a safe and
effective vaccine. According to Tiffany Chang, a human biology major at Stanford, In 1947,
Maccallum classified viral hepatitis into two types: Viral Hepatitis A, or infectious hepatitis,
and Viral Hepatitis B, or Serum hepatitis. According to the National Aids Treatment Advocacy
Project, The World Health Organization reports that 1.4 million cases of hepatitis A are treated
annually worldwide. According the the University of Maryland CT Medical Center, Eating or
drinking food or water contaminated with hepatitis A virus. Contaminated fruits, vegetables,
shellfish, ice, and water are common sources of hepatitis A transmission. Medical News

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Today (MNT) stated, Shuhan Sun, Fang Wang and colleagues note that chronic hepatitis B
seems to progress and cause liver
damage faster in men, with men the main
victims of the virus's most serious
complications.

According to hepatitis.about.com, While this is the

most recognizable viral hepatitis symptom, jaundice only
develops in about 30% of people with hepatitis B. Jaundice
is a symptom you receive during Hepatitis. Its likely to
show up less in Hepatitis A rather than Hepatitis B. Jaundice
is when your skin and the whites of your eyes turn a yellow
discoloration because of liver malfunction. Hepatitis A symptoms are dark urine, fatigue, itching,
loss of appetite, low-grade fever, vomiting and nausea, pale/clay colored stool, and Jaundice. For
Hepatitis B symptoms are abdominal pain, dark urine, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea
and vomiting, weakness and fatigue, and Jaundice. During an interview, Trini Nguyen, a victim
of Hepatitis A, said Knowing that I have Hepatitis A is going to be a hard challenge for me to
try to overcome. I know now that I have to be more careful. Before I found out about my virus, I
would never eat veggies no matter what. The feeling of greens in my mouth, made my mouth
feel like it was taken over by little parasites.

Part 3- What I Learned (Conclusion)

During the process of learning about my topic, Hepatitis A and B, I learned that the

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many little things you do and be very harmful to your body. Such as exchange of body fluids or
getting a tattoo improperly can be very dangerous considering you may contract Hepatitis B.
Watching what you eat is also an important factor. Some people may eat and eat, but they dont
notice what it is really doing to the inside of their body. Foods that taste and look good arent
always the best option to go with. Balancing out your diet is a good way to prevent harmful
viruses and/or lifetime diseases. This virus starts to become worse if left untreated. Many people
with Hepatitis A dont know that they actually have it. What I hypothesized about this virus is
entirely correct because my eleven year old cousin has Hepatitis A and told me the many things
about it. I continue to learn more about this virus maybe at a local hospital or the internet. This
research this changed my views about the effects this condition has on our society.

Works Cited

Chang, Tiffany. The History of Hepatitis. N.p., 16 Mar 1999. Web. 6 June 2013.

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Viral Hepatitis . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Mar 2013. Web. 6 Jun 2013.
Statistics . Hepatitis B Foundation, 21 Oct 2009. Web. 6 Jun 2013.
Symptoms. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 01 Sep 2011. Web. 6 Jun
2013.
Hepatitis A. Medlineplus, 22 Mar 2013. Web. 6 June 2013.
Hepatitis - Risk Factors and Transmission . University of Maryland Medical Center , n.d. Web.
6

Jun 2013.

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