Hepatitis

Hepatitis C Resources for Health Care Professionals

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:35:14 +0000

Hepatitis C Resources for Health Care Professionals

olh_Sharon.Muellers Fri, 01/10/2020 - 12:35

Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is primarily transmitted through exposure to infectious blood or body fluids that contain blood. HCV infection can cause both acute and chronic liver disease. Testing and treatment can prevent complications and interrupt transmission. More than 96% of hepatitis C cases can be cured with simple, well-tolerated treatments.

Learn more about hepatitis C transmission and prevention.

Clinical Features

HCV infection can lead to both acute and chronic liver disease. Many people with acute or chronic hepatitis C do not look or feel sick and don't know they are infected. If the patient does present with symptoms, they are usually mild and vague. Less than half of people infected with HCV clear it from their bodies without treatment.

Learn more about the clinical signs and symptoms of hepatitis C.

Testing and Screening for HCV

Testing patients for hepatitis C is important because nearly half of people with hepatitis C are unaware of their infection, and many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms. Clinicians should screen all adults aged 18 and older for hepatitis C at least once, and all pregnant persons during each pregnancy. CDC also recommends more frequent testing for people with recognized risk factors or exposures.

Learn more about types of HCV tests and the recommended testing sequence.

Reporting Hepatitis C

Health professionals in Vermont are required to report hepatitis c lab test results to the Vermont Department of Health.

Learn more about infectious disease reporting to the Vermont Department of Health.

Treatment

Hepatitis C can be cured. Treatment prevents transmissions, saves lives, reduces costs, and is recommended for almost all people diagnosed with HCV. More than 95% of people infected with hepatitis C can be cured with a simple, well-tolerated, 8-12 week course of oral medication. There is no need to wait for potential spontaneous viral resolution to begin treatment.

Learn more about clinical care of hepatitis C and treatment options.

Counseling Patients with HCV

Clinicians should talk to their patients diagnosed with HCV about treatment, healthy habits, liver care, transmission and reinfection prevention, and potential risks. Clinicians should discuss with their patients how to stay healthy during treatment by:

Eating a well-balanced diet
Exercising regularly
Avoiding excessive alcohol intake
Talking to a clinician before taking prescription drugs or nutritional supplements
Getting tested for HIV and hepatitis B
Getting vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B
Having regular liver checks (every 3-6 months) if diagnosed with cirrhosis

In addition, clinicians should counsel patients to avoid HCV transmission during treatment and avoid reinfection after treatment by:

Avoiding activities that lead to transmission, like sharing injection drug use equipment
Avoiding blood, tissue, and semen donation

People with hepatitis C should be vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B as recommended. There is no vaccine to prevent HCV. Prior infection with HCV does not protect against reinfection involving the same or different genotypes of the virus.

Training Modules and Continuing Education

Below is a list of clinician training modules on hepatitis C. Each training is free, and some provide continuing education credits.

HCV Education for Medical Professionals in Vermont

Hepatitis C Online for Clinicians

Medscape Education - Hepatitis C Virus Disparities

Medscape Education - Perinatal hepatitis C

Additional Reading

Guidelines for Health Care Personnel Exposed to Hepatitis C Virus

State-Specific Hepatitis C Virus Clearance Cascades

Recommendations for Hepatitis C Testing Among Perinatally Exposed Infants and Children

Interpretation of Hepatitis C Virus Test Results: Guidance for Laboratories (APHL)

Updated Operational Guidance for Implementing CDC's Recommendations on Testing for HCV Infection

CDC Recommendations for Hepatitis C Screening Among Adults

Hepatitis C

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:34:22 +0000

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

HCV can affect people differently. Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur when first infected, they can appear any time from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure.

People newly infected with hepatitis C virus may experience a wide range of symptoms, from mild illness with few or no symptoms to a serious condition that could require hospitalization.

Less than half of people newly infected with HCV will clear the virus. Most people with hepatitis C will develop a chronic, or long-term, infection. Chronic hepatitis C can cause liver disease, liver cancer, and even death. It is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.

Learn more about hepatitis C virus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

olh_Sharon.Muellers Fri, 01/10/2020 - 12:34

Hepatitis B

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:32:45 +0000

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a contagious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. Illness can be either acute or chronic.

Acute hepatitis B virus infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first six months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis B virus. Acute infection can, but does not always, lead to chronic infection. The infection can range in severity from a mild illness, with few or no symptoms, to a serious condition requiring hospitalization. Some people, especially adults, are able to clear, or get rid of, the virus without treatment. People who clear the virus become immune and cannot get infected with the hepatitis B virus again.

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the hepatitis B virus remains in a person’s body. Risk for chronic infection is related to age at infection: approximately 90% of infected infants become chronically infected, compared with 2%–6% of adults. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious health issues, like cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, or even death.

olh_Sharon.Muellers Fri, 01/10/2020 - 12:32

Hepatitis A Resources for Health Care Professionals

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:31:57 +0000

Hepatitis A Resources for Health Care Professionals

Hepatitis A Outbreaks in the United States

Multiple states across the country have reported outbreaks of hepatitis A, primarily among people who use drugs and people experiencing homelessness.

See CDC updates on state-reported outbreaks

olh_Sharon.Muellers Fri, 01/10/2020 - 12:31

Hepatitis A

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:30:15 +0000

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus that can spread easily from person to person. It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a more serious illness lasting several months. Hepatitis A is spread when someone ingests the virus during close, person-to-person contact or when someone eats or drinks something that is contaminated with hepatitis A virus.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Not everyone with hepatitis A infection has symptoms. Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children. If symptoms develop, they usually appear two to seven weeks after being infected and can include:

olh_Sharon.Muellers Fri, 01/10/2020 - 12:30