MYTH: Be careful who you kiss. You can get hepatitis from kissing.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are not transmitted via saliva. Hepaittis B is transmitted through blood to bloodstream contact and sexual contact. Hepatitis C is transmitted only through blood to bloodstream contact.

Although the hepatitis B virus is found in saliva the amount is not enough for it to be a transmission route. However, hepatitis B and C may be transmitted through kissing if there is blood present.

MYTH: Don't play contact sports with people who have hepatitis. You can catch it from them.

All sports should play the Blood Rule which says that where bleeding occurs during sports, all play must stop, first aid provided, cuts and grazes covered, and equipment or grounds cleaned up before game resumes. For more information, see http://bit.ly/bloodrules and keep that top player in your team.

MYTH: Don’t eat food prepared by someone with hepatitis. It may be contaminated and you might catch it.

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.

MYTH: People who have hepatitis B or C should not have children because they will pass it on to them.

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.

Hepatitis C

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.

Hepatitis B

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.

MYTH: My child’s best friend has hepatitis B. To protect my child, sadly, I have to limit their contact or watch over them all the time. And no sleep-overs.

Most children in Australia have been vaccinated against hepatitis B. The vaccine is safe and effective. If you are not sure whether your child has been vaccinated, talk to your doctor.

Make sure your child is vaccinated and let them play, fight, sleep-over...