[paranoid_com]

HELP ME
I like this lad a lot, like LOADS and LOADS
I discovered before (as he is ill) that when he was younger he had hepatitis, he said something about it reoccuring when he gets ill or because of it it makes him more ill? He didn't say which one or anything and obviously as we are not together... yet I don't really want to dig at information that is not really my business yet. I don't want to sound shallow, as obviously I would never sack a guy off because he had hepatitis when he was younger, but what are the complications? Can I catch anything? If I was to have a vaccine would it solve everythin? I think I'm just going to be left spending my life worrying or whatever? Can it effect you for life? Is it a disease which can reoccur? Please help you can see how worried I am, as I really like him! :confused: may I also just add that I don't want to ask him loads of questions as I don't want to sound shallow, as if well I did like him, but know I'm not sure, if that makes sense? I feel really down about it!

[Ulysses]

Hi paranoid_com!
Basically, hepatitis is a chronic disease (virus) that affects liver. It has 3+ types (A, B, C, and a less common E, G). If it were type A than there is not much to worry about.
Types B and C are most serious and potentially lead to cirrhosis if not given due treatment (in the long term depending on the life style - i.e. alcohol, smoking, diet). One can't get rid of the virus forever once it's in the system, alas there is no cure so far. Current medicines (combined interferon alfa + ribavirin) produce good response in 50-70% of cases - i.e. this therapy will stop the virus from proliferating and lower it down in the system.
The virus is mainly transferred via blood, sexual transmission is about 5% possible, although there are exceptions. You can still have healthy children from an ill person.
More info may be found there Hepatitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia