Hepatitis A and B
How you can get it: kissing or oral sex (in rare cases). How common it is: 125,000 to 250,000 cases a year of Hep A; 140,000 to 320,000 of Hep B. The symptoms: jaundice, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Is it serious? Generally treatable, but can be fatal in rare cases. Safe and effective vaccines exist for both Hepatitis A and B. Hepatitis B vaccine is currently recommended for everyone and Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for people at high risk, i.e., world travelers and men engaging in sex with men.
Resources
To find a low-cost clinic near you or more about any of the diseases above, log onto Planned Parenthood's site.
*Source for all figures is the Centers for Disease Control in Bethesda, MD.
