Don't let these common myths stop you from getting the most out of your life and relationships!
You may get hepatitis A from food prepared by someone with the disease but only if he/she was unhygienic, i.e. didn’t wash their hands properly with soap after toileting and before food preparation.
Hepatitis B and C are not transmitted by casual contact.
Risk of transmission from mother to baby is different for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. But having either of these conditions is no reason for not having children or terminating a pregnancy.
Overall, the risk of mother to baby transmission of hepatitis C during birth is very low. Discuss your case with your doctor. For more information see http://bit.ly/pregbirthbeyond.
There is a risk of transmitting hepatitis B from mother to infant during the birthing process. However, most transmissions to baby can be avoided by giving baby hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and the first shot of hepatitis B vaccine at birth. For more information see http://bit.ly/hbvmomstobe_eng. Discuss your situation with your specialist.
Hepatitis B and C virus can only infect humans and higher primates. Your pet dog, cat, budgie or goldfish will not get hepatitis B or C from you or your human friends.
Go ahead and hug them.
You can’t get hepatitis from hugging, shaking hands, back slapping, high fives or other casual contacts that make life more enjoyable.
There is no evidence of people getting hepatitis C or hepatitis B from sharing food and utensils.
Hepatitis C is transmitted only via blood-to-bloodstream contact.
While hepatitis B is found in the saliva, the amount of virus in it is not enough for saliva to be a transmission agent. You will need to drink buckets of saliva before transmission may occur.
