Scribd
Upload
53 views34 pages

Hepatitis A, B, C and HIV: The Hepatitis Education Project Seattle, Washington

This document discusses hepatitis A, B, C and HIV. It provides information on the different hepatitis viruses, including how they are transmitted and symptoms. Key points include that hepatitis C is a major public health problem transmitted primarily through blood exposures like injection drug use and tattoos, and there is no vaccine. While there is no cure for HIV or hepatitis B, hepatitis C can now often be cured through medication treatment. The document educates on testing, risk factors, natural disease progression, and goals of treatment to cure the virus and prevent liver damage.

Uploaded by

kashifbutty2k
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
53 views34 pages

Hepatitis A, B, C and HIV: The Hepatitis Education Project Seattle, Washington

This document discusses hepatitis A, B, C and HIV. It provides information on the different hepatitis viruses, including how they are transmitted and symptoms. Key points include that hepatitis C is a major public health problem transmitted primarily through blood exposures like injection drug use and tattoos, and there is no vaccine. While there is no cure for HIV or hepatitis B, hepatitis C can now often be cured through medication treatment. The document educates on testing, risk factors, natural disease progression, and goals of treatment to cure the virus and prevent liver damage.

Uploaded by

kashifbutty2k
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 34

Hepatitis A, B, C and HIV

The Hepatitis Education Project Seattle, Washington

Topics of Discussion

What is hepatitis? How are the hepatitis viruses different?

How is HIV/AIDS similar to the hepatitis viruses?

Goals

Increase awareness and understanding Prevent transmission Educate patients about care and treatment

Ground Rules

Open and interactive Educational focus Respectful and attentive No medical diagnosis

Liver Function

Hepa means liver; itis means inflammation 2nd largest organ Performs over 500 different functions Lacks nerve endings Able to regenerate

Hepatitis - caused by many different agents:


Viruses Alcohol Drugs/prescriptions Herbs Genetic disorders Obesity

Hepatitis Viruses

Hep A

Fecal-oral transmission Contaminated food & water Blood & bodily fluids
Blood

Hep B

Hep C:

Some Similarities: HIV and Hep B

Transmitted via contaminated blood & bodily fluids Risk of sexual transmission is high

More easily transmitted through sex than hep C

There is no cure for HIV or hepatitis B

Hepatitis B

Vaccine preventable In the U.S. most adults get over this infection on their own (90-95%) People infected for a long time have a higher risk of getting liver cancer

Liver cancer possible before cirrhosis (unlike HCV) Liver cancer screening is important

Protect Yourself

Get immunized against Hep A and Hep B Practice good hygiene

Wash your hands with soap & water

Practice safer sex with any new partner

Use condoms

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a virus transmitted via contaminated blood There is NO VACCINE It is very common U.S. and Worldwide

About 4-5 million Hep C+ people in the U.S. About 200 million Hep C+ people in the World

How do people get infected with hepatitis C?


Injection drug use Tattoos (especially in jail or prison, street tattoos) Blood transfusions (pre-1992) Intranasal drug use

Lower Risks of Exposure


Sexual transmission Mother-to-child at birth (3-5%) Sharing personal hygiene tools

Toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers


Firefighters, healthcare workers

Occupational exposure

Fighting

Drug Use is #1

Sharing any drug equipment can pass Hep C and Hep B

works needles, syringes, cottons, cookers, pipes, straws, rinse water, etc.

Cleaning with bleach is preferred, but isnt reliable against hepatitis viruses

Tattoos

Tattoos done in prison or jail are the most risky Best protection: get tattoos at licensed shops (autoclave, disposable inks and needles)

How will I know if I have Hep C?

Get tested

First blood test looks for exposure. This is called an Antibody test. Second blood test looks for virus. This is called a PCR or confirmatory test.

Natural History of Hep C


100 People

25% Resolve

75% Chronic

Natural History of Hep C


100 People

Resolve (25)

Chronic (75)

Stable (34)

Cirrhosis (41)

Liver Cancer (10)

Mortality (25)

Long-term effects of viral hepatitis

Healthy livers are plump and smooth Cirrhotic livers are nodular; bumpy and shrunken

HCV is the leading cause of liver transplant in the U.S.

Dangerous Combinations

Alcohol + Hep C HIV + Hep C Hep B + Hep C

These can cause much worse & much faster liver damage

Symptoms of Hep C
Most people have no symptoms.
Symptoms can include: Fatigue (frequently tired) Memory or concentration problems (brain fog) Joint pains Insomnia (cant sleep) Depression

Liver Biopsy

Gives you a scar stage, a rating of the amount of scarring Stages of scarring:

Stage 0: Stage 1: Stage 2: Stage 3: Stage 4:

No scarring Mild Moderate scarring, Treatment maybe Bridging fibrosis, Treatment yes! Cirrhosis, Treatment yes! (if liver can tolerate)

Types of Hep C

Hepatitis C is like a family with 6 different brothers or sisters. These siblings represent the different genotypes of Hep C

In the U.S. we see mainly 3 different genotypes:

Genotype 1: needs one year of treatment, by far the most common type in the U.S. Genotype 2 or 3: needs six months of treatment

Is there a cure?
Yes, for many but not all.

Cure rates for Hep C

After 6-12 months of treatment about 70-80% of people will be cured

If HCV- after 4 weeks, cure rate is 90%+

Hep C Treatment

Combination of 3 drugs: interferon, ribavirin and a protease inhibitor

Treatment Goals

Kill the virus Stop scarring of the liver Prevent cirrhosis Get rid of the fatigue and other symptoms

Interferon

Interferon is an injection given just under the skin 3 times per week Pegylated interferon is injected once a week.

Side Effects:

Fever Headache Nausea

Diarrhea Hair Thinning Thyroid Problems

Depression Irritability Fatigue

Ribavirin

Ribavirin is a pill taken twice a day

Side Effects:
Anemia low blood, makes a person feel tired
Rash Insomnia

Loss of appetite
Cough

Protease Inhibitors

Two new drugs: Telaprevir Boceprevir Both are oral medications taken every 8 hrs Both were added to IFN/riba treatment in 2011

Side Effects:
Telaprevir main side effect: Rash Boceprevir main side effect: Anemia

Alternatives to Treatment
May be useful for easing side effects

Complimentary/ alternative treatments


Herbs that may be harmful to the liver*

Massage therapy Prayer & meditation Naturopathic medicine Herbal medicine*

Milk thistle

Yoga Aroma therapy Acupuncture

Heliotropium Skullcap Jin Bu Huan Germander Sassafras Comfrey Senna Valerian Pennyroyal

*Caution should be taken in the use of herbals


Sources: NIH, NCCAM, May 2000 Hepatitis C Support Project, www.hcvadvocate.org, August 2011

If you have Hep C, you should NOT


Share needles or works Share tattoo equipment Share razors, nail clippers or toothbrushes Donate blood

Hepatitis B & C are NOT spread by casual contact, i.e.


Hugging Kissing Sharing food or drinks Playing Sharing a house

Now that you know

Get tested

And if you have Hep C


Limit alcohol Get vaccinated against Hep A and B Talk with your doctor to find out if you need treatment

For more information

Books on Hep C are available in all Washington State prison libraries Go online to learn more at http://www.hcvadvocate.org Visit your local Public Health Clinic Contact the Hepatitis Education Project Phone: 1-800-218-6932 Address: 911 Western Ave. #302, Seattle, WA 98104 Websites: http://www.hepeducation.org http://hcvinprison.org

You might also like