Hepatitis Liver Disease

What is Hepatitis? Hepatitis is a liver disease, meaning “inflammation of the liver”. Hepatitis can be either acute or chronic. Acute hepatitis is inflammation of the liver lasting less than 6 months. Chronic hepatitis is inflammation lasting longer than 6 months. There are several different types of hepatitis. The most common forms of viral hepatitis are A, B, & C. Obesity, alcohol abuse, toxins or misused prescriptions and “over the counter” medications can also cause symptoms of liver inflammations; however, this type of hepatitis is not contagious.

Symptoms of Hepatitis All types of hepatitis have similar symptoms and can include one or more of the following: Jaundice Nausea Vomiting Abdominal pain Fever Fatigue Joint pain Loss of appetite Gray-colored bowel movements

Types of Hepatitis: A-B-C Transmission: Ingestion of contaminated food or drinks, or fecal matter (microscopic amounts); sexual contact with infected individual Hepatitis B Transmission: Coming in contact with infected fluids: blood, semen, other body fluid- via shared sharps, needles, sexual contact, birth from infected mother Hepatitis C Transmission: Primarily from contact with infected person’s blood through contaminated needles/syringes

Viral Hepatitis - Overview Types of Hepatitis A B C Sources of Virus feces blood/blood-derived body fluids Route of Transmission fecal/oral percutaneous permucosal Chronic Infection no yes Prevention pre/post-exposure immunization Blood donor screening; risk behavior modification

Protect Against Hepatitis Preventative Actions Practicing good sanitation and hygiene. Avoid contaminated food and water, especially when traveling in countries where hepatitis A is common. Do not share personal care items like razors or toothbrushes that may have blood on them. Avoid injecting drugs if possible. Never share needles or syringes. Be cautious and consider risks of getting tattoos and body piercings. Do not donate blood, organs, or tissue if you have hepatitis. Vaccination Take advantage of vaccination opportunities. This is the best way to protect against the hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses. Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given in a series of three/four shots given over 6- month period.

WorkPlace Precautions/Care Use universal precautions for dealing with bloodborne pathogens such as HIV, Hepatitis C & Hepatitis B. Use personal protective equipment when cleaning a contaminated area: Always wear gloves when handling any infected/contaminated objects; one time use only! Decontamination: Clean the area thoroughly with disinfectant and discard of gloves without allowing the substance to touch the skin. Wash hands immediately following decontamination: Use liquid soap and warm water Wash vigorously for at least 10-15 sec Use a paper towel to turn off faucet Proper disposal of contaminated items: Double bag contaminated items and place in designated trash- usually biohazard container

Sources www.webmd.com www.cdc.gov www.menscosmo.com www.osha.gov