Getting Hip to Hep What you need to know about hepatitis A, B and C

What is Hepatitis? Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver – –In Latin, “Hepa” means liver, –“itis” means inflammation, just like Tonsilitis- inflammation of the TONSILS Appendicitis – inflammation of the APPENDIX Most common types of hepatitis are: Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

How do I know if I have it? You may or may not have signs and symptoms All viral hepatitis conditions can be diagnosed using a simple blood test

Symptoms You might have: Tiredness Loss of appetite Fever Stomach-ache Diarrhea Dark urine Light-colored stools Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) Not everyone has symptoms.

Few Hepatitis Definitions Acute hepatitis: newly infected Chronic (life-long) hepatitis: long-lasting infection

Facts About Your Liver Largest internal organ Located on the right hand side under the rib cage 3 lbs Size of a football Has over 500 vital functions You cannot live without your liver

What does the liver do? It’s like a vacuum –It cleans out poisons from your body It’s like a warehouse –It stores vitamins and minerals It’s like a body builder –It produces just the right amount of amino acids to build strong and healthy muscles It’s like a gas station –It keeps the body fueled up with the just the right amount of glucose (sugar)

What else does the liver do? It’s like a factory –It produces an important digestive liquid called bile It’s like a Band-Aid –It makes factors that cause your blood to clot when you bleed It’s like a meter –It regulates hormones

True or False If you remove a piece of your liver, it can grow back? TRUE

Liver Damage The liver can be damaged by –hepatitis viruses –drugs, even over-the-counter medicines –bacteria –parasites –toxins like alcohol Toxins can kill liver cells – the more toxins you take in, the more you damage your liver

Healthy Liver vs. Sick Liver This is a healthy liverThis is a sick, scarred liver (cirrhosis)

Hepatitis A Virus Discovered in the 1940’s Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is found in the stool (poop) HAV is spread by the fecal–oral route

How is Hepatitis A Spread ? Person to person contact –living with someone who has hepatitis A –having sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis A –in child care centers (especially centers that have children in diapers) where a child or an employee has hepatitis A Eating food contaminated with hepatitis A virus –Eating fruits, vegetables, or other food that have become contaminated during handling –Eating raw shellfish harvested from sewage- contaminated water Drinking contaminated water or swallowing contaminated ice

Ways to Prevent HAV Infection Hepatitis A Vaccine –Usually given as two shots –safe and effective –protection will probably last for at least 20 years –Can be given in combination with hepatitis B - TWINRIX

Other Ways to Prevent HAV Infection Wash your hands Wear gloves if you have to clean surfaces contaminated with stool (e.g., diaper changing tables)

Treatment There is no specific medication or pill for hepatitis A. Once fully recovered: –You cannot get hepatitis A again –You are no longer infected and cannot give the infection to others

Hepatitis B Virus First recognized in 1960s HBV is found in: – the blood and body fluids (e.g., semen, vaginal fluids) of an infected person

Hepatitis B Virus – Show me the numbers 100 times more infectious than HIV About 5% of Americans have been infected About 1.25 million people living in the United States have chronic (life-long) HBV infection. –About 15%-25% of persons with chronic HBV infection might die from either cirrhosis or liver cancer. Approximately 90% of babies born with HBV will have it for a lifetime.

How can it spread? Sexual contact with an infected person without using a condom Injection drug use –Sharing needles, syringes or “works” (e.g., water, cookers, cotton, spoons) when “shooting” drugs Tattoos and body piercing –Tattoo or body piercing done with tools that might have someone else’s blood on them From an infected mother to her child at birth Sharing personal care items, such as toothbrushes or razors with an infected person

Question What is the one thing you all have in common when it comes to hepatitis B? You all have been vaccinated against hepatitis B

Hepatitis B Vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given as three shots over a 4-6 month period Combination vaccine – hepatitis A and B together - TWINRIX Hepatitis vaccines are safe and effective –protection will last for at least 15 years Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for: –all infants –all children and adolescents –adults at increased risk

Treatment There is no treatment for acute (new infection) hepatitis B For chronic (life-long) hepatitis B, antiviral medicines are available –Medicines are effective in reducing liver damage in about one-half of patients Liver transplant –Over time your liver might stop working, and you might need a new liver from a donor

Hepatitis C Virus Facts First identified in 1988 HCV is found in the blood of an infected person Most common chronic bloodborne virus More infectious than HIV Has no vaccine Can be transmitted in small amounts of blood too small to be seen Symptoms are often mild.

Hepatitis C – Show me the Numbers Over 4 million Americans have been infected 8, ,000 Americans die from HCV- related illness each year # 1 reason for liver transplantation in the United States Over 200,000 people living in NY have hepatitis C

How is Hepatitis C Spread? Injection drug use –Sharing needles, syringes or "works" (e.g., water, cookers, cotton, spoons) when "shooting" drugs Blood transfusion (especially ones that occurred before 1992; since then the US has been checking the blood supply) Sex with an HCV-infected person –Sex with many people –Sex without a condom –Sex while you have an STD

How else is Hepatitis C Spread? Sharing items (e.g., razors or toothbrushes) that might have blood on them Tattoos and body piercing –Tattoo or body piercing done with tools that might have someone else’s blood on them –Tattoos done while in prison or jail From an HCV-infected mother to her child at birth

Question Name ONE famous person Who has hepatitis C? Steven Tyler, Pam Anderson, Natalie Cole, Greg Allman, Naomi Judd

Treatment There is no treatment for acute (new infection) hepatitis C For chronic (life-long) hepatitis C antiviral medicines are available –Treatment might take as long as a year –About half of patients get rid of the virus Liver transplant –Over time your liver might stop working and you might need a new liver from a donor

Hepatitis C –Rating the Risk Take your behavior “Sticky Card” and place it on the “Continuum of Risk” as either –High –Medium –Low LowMediumHigh

Stay Hepatitis free Good handwashing Don’t share razors or toothbrushes Be careful if you are getting a tattoo or piercing Don’t inject drugs or share needles or works If you are having sex, practice SAFE sex GET Vaccinated

Stay Hepatitis Free You cannot get hepatitis B or C from: –Food and water –Sharing eating utensils –Kissing on the cheek –Hugging or holding hands You cannot get hepatitis C from breastfeeding

Surfing the Internet

National Hepatitis Awareness Month - May

Viral Hepatitis Poster Contest Open to all students in this class All posters should target young people Three categories: –General Hepatitis Awareness –Hepatitis B –Hepatitis C Posters will be judged by NYS Department of Health staff

Prizes: –Grand Prize - $100 cash –2 nd Place - $50 cash –3rd Place - $25 cash All posters will be displayed at the Empire State Plaza (week of May 18) You must complete a Contest Release Form DEADLINE: April 21, 2009 –Submit poster and consent form to Mrs. Dwyer Viral Hepatitis Poster Contest (2)