Hepatitis+1

Hepatitis B

Symptoms: - When first infected with Hepatitis B, you man have no symptoms, or you may feel sick for a period of days or weeks, or you may become very ill. - Symptoms may not appear for up to 6 months after you are first infected. - Early symptoms - Appetite loss - Fatigue - Low-grade fever - Muscle and joint aches - Nausea and vomiting - Yellow skin and dark urine due to jaundice - Over time, some people may develop symptoms of chronic liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver

Prevention: - Children should get a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth - They should then complete the series of three shots by 6 months old - Unvaccinated people under the age of 19 should receive “catch-up” doses - Health care works, a person who lives with someone who has hepatitis B, and anyone at high risk of contracting it should get the hepatitis B vaccine. - Mothers who have or have had hepatitis B and give birth to a child, should have their baby receive a special vaccination. - The vaccination includes hepatitis B immune globulin and a hepatitis B immunization. It must be given within 12 hours of birth. - Donated blood is screened to reduce the chance of getting hepatitis B from a blood transfusion. - Anyone who has the disease is required to report it to the state so that health care workers can track it. - People who have not yet received the disease are given the vaccine to prevent it. - Avoid sexual contact with a person who has acute or chronic hepatitis B - Use a condom and practice safe sex - Avoid sharing personal items (ex: razors, toothbrushes, etc.) - Do not share drug needles or other drug equipment - Clean blood spills with a solution containing 1 part household bleach to 10 parts water

Hepatitis Treatment:
 * There is no cure for Hepatitis B, only treatment.
 * Short-term Hepatitis B (acute) usually goes away by itself, but home treatment is offered to relieve symptoms and to prevent it from spreading.
 * Within 2 weeks since a person has been diagnosed, a hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) shot and the first of 3 hepatitis B vaccines should be received. The sooner you receive treatment, the better.
 * Long-term Hepatitis B (chronic) requires antiviral medicines and monitoring the condition to prevent liver damage. In some cases, if the liver is damaged, a liver transplant may be suggested.
 * Antiviral medicine is used when the virus is active in the body and there is potential risk for liver damage.
 * Antiviral medicine includes: interferons and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI’s). This will help slow down the virus’ ability to multiply and spread.
 * A checkup should also be scheduled regularly so that the doctor can do blood tests to monitor liver function and the activity of the virus.
 * If the virus is actively spreading in the liver, risk of liver damage such as cirrhosis and liver cancer is increased.

How do you diagnose hepatitis B (HBV)?
 * In order to diagnose hepatitis, a doctor would usually begin by asking about your:
 * Symptoms
 * Medical history
 * Current medical conditions
 * Current medication
 * Family history of medical conditions
 * Any recent travel
 * Alcohol and/or drug use
 * Sexual history- etc.
 * The doctor will look for signs and symptoms through a physical exam
 * If the doctor suspects hepatitis he will perform more exams;
 * 1. Liver enzyme tests- certain levels of liver enzymes in the blood are checked, and among these tests may be used to diagnose hepatitis B.
 * 2. Also, by seeing what antibodies the body has made against the virus, then the doctor may be able to diagnose the virus
 * 3. The doctor may also do a liver biopsy
 * The doctor takes a tiny piece of your liver with a needle and checks it for signs of hepatitis B and liver damage.

What parts of the body does it affect?
 * Hepatitis B (HBV) affects the liver

Hepatitis: How do you contract this infection of disease? - Hepatitis A: o You contract Hepatitis A when it enters through your mouth. The virus can be carried on a person’s hands if they aren’t washed after using the bathroom. o Also Hepatitis can spread by consuming food or a drink that someone else had handled. o Flies landing on waste then on someone’s food can also spread hepatitis. o Contact with an infected person may also spread this infection. - Hepatitis B: o Over 250,000 people in the United States contract HBV each year. o Hepatitis B is normally spread through sexual contact. o It can also be spread through contact with blood or body fluids from a person carrying HBV. - Hepatitis C o You contract Hepatitis C from blood transfusion o Needle use such as in unclean needles from tattoo procedures or body piercings can cause hepatitis C. o You can acquire it from you mother during childbirth. o Also from sexual activity.

3 questions: True/False 1. Symptoms may not appear for up to 6 months after you are first infected. true Multiple choice: 1. Which is not a symptom of Hepatitis B? a. Fatigue b. Yellow skin. Dark urine c. Appetite loss d. High fevers (answer) Fill- in: 1. There is no cure for Hepatitis B, only________. Treatments

Additional facts: -Hepatitis is an inflammation in the liver caused by inflammatory cells in the liver’s tissue. -Hepatitis can sometimes go unnoticed because the common symptoms are similar to that of the flu. -There are 5 different types of hepatitis: A, B, C, D, and E. -Viral hepatitis is a “self-revolving” illness, but some serious cases that are chronic can lead to death or liver failure. -Hepatitis patients should be aware of certain medications, alcoholic beverages, and herbs/ spices because it can irritate and worsen the condition. -Over 13 million people are affected by hepatitis in the United States.