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: People who have hepatitis cannot drink alcohol, ever!

While it is best to abstain from alcohol if your liver is damaged, people with hepatitis can still drink alcohol in limited quantities, depending on the state of their liver health.

The amount of alcohol your liver can handle depends on the degree of damage it has suffered from the hepatitis. However it is recommended that you limit the amount you drink even if your liver is not damaged.

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: You can get hepatitis from sharing food and utensils.

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.

MYTH: Don’t share clothes with people who have hepatitis or sit or sleep where they have been. You might get infected.

Hepatitis B and C are not transmitted through casual contact, sneezing, coughing or breathing the same air.

Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood-to-bloodstream contact and sexual contact.

Hepatitis C is transmitted only through blood-to-bloodstream contact.

The blood and/or sexual fluid have to get into your body for transmission to occur.