Hepatitis
What is hepatitis and how is it transmitted?
Hepatitis is a viral disease that affects the liver. There are many forms of hepatitis, including Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV). It is transmitted through infected blood and other body fluids and unsafe sexual practices. It can also be transmitted from mothers to babies.
How serious is Hepatitis B?
140,000-320,000 people in the United States become infected yearly and 50% of people infected show no symptoms. Between 8,000-32,000 people in the US become chronically infected yearly, meaning that the virus has been present for more than six months. One million -1.25 million (1 in every 200) people in the US have chronic infection. Fifteen percent through 25% of chronically affected people will die as a result of complications associated with chronic hepatitis B. HBV costs more than $700 million yearly in medical and work loss.
Who is at risk of developing HBV?
People who come into contact with infected people's blood and body fluids-such as health workers, tattoo artists or body piercers; injection drug users; sexually active people who come into contact with infected people; hemophiliacs and hemodialysis patients; people who had blood transfusions before 1975; newborns of infected mothers; prison inmates and personnel; travelers to underdeveloped countries; and people adopted from countries with high HBV rates.
What are the symptoms of infection?
Almost half of all people infected will have no recognizable symptoms. The virus may be asymptotic or may take many weeks to present symptoms. People may note flu-like symptoms which include the following: extreme tiredness; loss of appetite/weight; nausea/vomiting; fatigue; muscle/joint aches; fever; jaundice (yellow skin and eye color); and dark colored urine/light colored feces.
How do I find out if I have HBV?
A blood test will tell you if you have or have had HBV. This test is not in the usual battery of blood tests during a routine physical, so you must ask a medical provider to order a special test.
What do I do if my test comes out positive?
See your doctor. Additional tests may be necessary to confirm the
diagnosis. Some treatment is possible, although only about 35% effective
at this time. Do not drink alcohol, since it worsens HBV. Help protect
others from getting HBV by educating yourself on safe and unsafe
practices, and adhering to safe practices.
What can I do to protect myself from getting HBV? Get the hepatitis
B vaccine--three shots over six months. Always use Universal Precautions
in your tattooing or piercing studio. Do not come into contact with
other people's blood or bodily fluid. Attend continuing education
courses on infection control procedures for tattooist and body piercers.
Do not share needles or stick yourself with contaminated needles.
Become educated on safe and unsafe practices, and adhere to safe
practices. Use safe sexual practices.
If I have been exposed to HBV, what should I do?
Call you doctor immediately. Receive an injection of HBIG within 24 hours for the best protective effect. Follow-up with the series of three vaccinations against HBV.
How serious is HCV?
HCV causes chronic liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver, a form of cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. Thirty-six thousand through 230,000 people in the United States develop HCV each year. Only 25-30% of people with HCV develop symptoms and 4.5 million people in the United States have HCV. Eighty to 90% of HCV infections become chronic, meaning that the infection has been present for more than six months. Up to 10,000 people die from HCV complications each year. HCV is the biggest cause of liver transplants in the United States. More than $600 million is lost yearly due to HCV costs.
How is HCV transmitted?
HCV is passed to others through blood. It can be transmitted through sexual contact and from mothers to babies.
Who is at risk of developing HCV?
Like HBV, those at risk include: injection drug users; people with tattoos and body piercing acquired with non-sterile equipment; sexually active people who come into contact with infected people; people who come into contact with infected people's blood either directly or indirectly such as health workers, tattoo artists or body piercers.
What are the symptoms of infection?
Most people with HCV infection do not know that they have it. The virus may not show up for many weeks. People may note flu-like symptoms such as: extreme tiredness; abdominal pain; loss of appetite/weight; nausea/vomiting; jaundice (yellow skin and eye color); dark colored urine/light colored feces; itching; joint pain; and fever.
How can I find out if I have HCV?
A blood test can tell if you have HCV. You must ask to be screened, since this test is not done in the regular battery of blood tests.
What do I do if my test comes out positive?
See your doctor. Additional tests may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Some treatment is possible, although not very effective at this time. Do not drink alcohol, since it worsens HCV. Help protect others from getting HCV through educating yourself on safe and unsafe practices and adhering to the safe practices. Get the HCV and HBV vaccines.
What can I do to prevent getting HCV?
Do not come into contact with other people's blood or body secretions. Always use Universal Precautions in your tattooing or piercing studio. Become thoroughly familiar with infection control practices, the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, and Universal Precautions. Attend continuing education courses on infection control procedures for tattooists and body piercers. Do not inject drugs. If you are an injection drug user, do not share needles. Do not share cocaine straws. Practice safe sex. Do not share items that may contain blood such as toothbrushes, razors, earrings, chewing gum, or needles.
What if I have been exposed to HCV?
Currently, there is no vaccine or immune globulin available for HCV.