CHOW: Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis Education Project911 Western Avenue, Suite 302Seattle, WA

Hepatitis Topics

What are the hepatitis viruses?

Hepatitis C transmission

Hepatitis C diagnosis and progression

Hepatitis viruses

Hepatitis A Fecal-Oral Transmission Cycle Acute Infection

Hepatitis B Transmitted through infected blood and bodily

fluids (semen and vaginal fluids) Can be an acute or chronic infection

Hepatitis C Transmitted through infected blood

Vaccine Preventable

Hepatitis A vaccine 2 shots over six months lifelong protection

Hepatitis B vaccine 3 shots over six months lifelong protection

Combination hepatitis A/B vaccine 3 shots over six months or 4 shots over 12 months lifelong protection

Hepatitis C Transmission

Hepatitis C virus (HCV, hep C) is shared when infected blood enters the bloodstream of another

person

Blood transfusion prior to 1992

Injection drug use Re-use of needles Snorting drugs

with others

Tattoos: sharing ink or sharps

Dialysis: contaminated medical equipment

Mother-to-child at birth

Higher risk sex

Long-term effects of Hepatitis C

Over 20-40 years the liver can slowly become scarred

Severe scarring is called cirrhosis; cirrhotic livers begin to fail if the disease is not stopped

Liver cancer risk is higher if cirrhosis present

Patient experiences

For some (15-25%) hepatitis C will be an acute infection HCV antibodies are not protective

75-85% will develop chronic hepatitis C Some will never have a problem Some will get serious liver disease,

including cirrhosis Hepatitis C continues to be the leading

cause of liver transplantation in the U.S.

Symptoms of hepatitis C

Most people have no symptoms

But for those who do: Fatigue Insomnia Depression Joint pains Memory or concentration problems

Hepatitis C Diagnosis

Blood test Antibody test first Confirm with PCR test; this looks for active virus in the blood

Types of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is like a family with 6 different siblings - Genotypes

In the U.S. we have 3 different genotypes Genotype 1▪Most common in the U.S.

Genotypes 2 & 3

Testing positive, now what?

Get blood tests to check liver function

Check and monitor liver scarring (fibrosis) Abdominal ultrasound Liver biopsy

Consider treatment