Hepatitis Awareness Month

By Nurse Diane

According to the CDC, the 19th was the second annual hepatitis-testing day.  Since that day fell on Sunday, I’m sure you can get tested today, or any day!  They just promoted the 19th as a way to increase awareness and to encourage people, especially those in heath care, to be tested.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. There are 3 main types of Hepatitis, A, which is airborne, B, which is blood borne, and C (formally known as Non A-Non B) There are a few more less common types, D E F and G.

Signs and Symptoms:

Loss of appetite

Fatigue

Mild fever

Muscle or joint aches

Nausea and vomiting

Many cases of hepatitis go undiagnosed because the disease is mistaken for the flu or because there are no symptoms at all.

Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool (feces) of a person who has hepatitis A. The virus is spread most commonly when people put food or objects contaminated with stool containing HAV into their mouths. Large numbers of people get the virus after drinking contaminated water. It can also be spread by someone preparing food without washing their hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper.

Treatment:

Hepatitis A usually goes away on it's own. Be sure to eat right, avoid dehydration and always wash your hands before eating or preparing food.

Hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected person. You may get it by having unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing injection needles, getting tatoos with infected needles or sharing razors or toothbrushes with an infected person.

Treatment:

Acute Hepatitis B usually goes away on it's own, Chronic Hepatitis B needs to be monitored by your doctor to determine if there is any liver damage. Prevention is the key. There is a series of vaccinations that are available to prevent contracting Hepatitis. All adults at risk as well as children should be vaccinated. It is normal protocol for nursing students to become vaccinated and I am sure the same is true for anyone in the health care field.

Hepatitis C virus is caused by coming in contact with an infected person's blood. It can lead to permanent liver damage, cirrhosis, cancer of the liver or liver failure. Most people do not know they have Hepatitis C until there is already some liver damage. Some people have had it for as long as 15 years without ever knowing. The way it is diagnosed is by blood tests.

Treatment:

May be treated with antivirals.

The main thing to remember is to keep yourself safe. Get vaccinated, wash your hands and protect yourself if you are around blood and body fluids.

For more information: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/

World Hepatitis Day

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By Diane Forrest, RN

Back in the 1980's there was a young girl around 2 years old named Molly.  Her family went to my church, and her skin and eyes were very yellow.  She was born with liver damage, and I can remember having fund raisers to raise money for a transplant.  This was 30 years ago.  She was able to have the transplant and immediately her skin and eye color returned to normal and she was able to live a normal life.  My uncle, who taught her in Jr. High, told me she was married 10 years ago, and her parents still live in my old home town.

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World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to focus on specific actions such as: Strengthening prevention, screening and control of viral hepatitis and its related diseases; Increasing hepatitis B vaccine coverage and integration into national immunization programs; and coordinating a global response to hepatitis to increase access to treatment.

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Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E can cause acute and chronic infection and inflammation of the liver leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. These viruses constitute a major global health risk with an estimated 350 million people being chronically infected with hepatitis B and an estimated 170 million people being chronically infected with hepatitis C.

Hepatitis is swelling and inflammation of the liver. It is not a condition, but is often used to refer to a viral infection of the liver.

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Hepatitis can be caused by:

• Immune cells in the body attacking the liver and causing autoimmune hepatitis
• Infections from viruses (such as hepatitis A, B, or C), bacteria, or parasites
• Liver damage from alcohol, poisonous mushrooms, or other poisons
• Medications, such as an overdose of acetaminophen, which can be deadly
• Hepatitis may start and get better quickly (acute hepatitis), or cause long-term disease (chronic hepatitis). In some instances, it may lead to liver damage, liver failure, or even liver cancer.

How severe hepatitis is depends on many factors, including the cause of the liver damage and any illnesses you have. Hepatitis A, for example, is usually short-term and does not lead to chronic liver problems.

The symptoms of hepatitis include:

• Abdominal pain or distention
• Breast development in males
• Dark urine and pale or clay-colored stools
• Fatigue
• Fever, usually low-grade
• General itching
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss

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This can be diagnosed with a physical examination showing yellow skin and eyes, fluid in the stomach or enlarged liver.  Blood tests and liver ultra sounds can also confirm the diagnosis.

If not treated, hepatitis can cause cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer and even liver failure that can lead to death.  Today is World Hepatitis Day, for more information about hepatitis and ways you can help spread the word, click on this site: http://worldhepatitisalliance.org/WorldHepatitisDay.aspx

http://www.disabled-world.com/health/hepatitis/