Hepatitis C

From TeenHealthCentre.com

General Health
Hepatitis C
By Teen Health Centre
Jun 14, 2006, 11:58

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a disease that affects the liver, and is caused by the Hepatitis C virus, which was first identified in 1989 (HCV). The virus causes hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), which can progress to cirrhosis (extensive scarring so the liver cannot perform its normal functions).

How is it transmitted?

The most common form of transmission is through injection drug use, even if drug use was many years ago or happened only once. Sharing needles or any drug related equipment is enough to spread Hepatitis C. The only way to avoid being exposed to HCV in this way is not to share needles or use injection drugs. Another way of getting Hepatitis C is through a blood transfusion from a donor who has Hepatitis C especially for those people who received a blood transfusion prior to 1990. In 1998 the risk of contracting Hepatitis C through a blood transfusion is virtually zero, less then 1 in 200,000. Due to precautions taken in screening donors and blood units. Sharing toothbrushes, nail clippers, or razors with an infected person can also spread the Hepatitis C virus.

Sex and Hep C

At this time it is believed that transmission of HCV by sexual means-either heterosexual or homosexual-is extremely rare (approximately 1% to 3%). In spite of the low risk, long-term monogamous couples must decide for themselves about routine condom use. They should avoid unprotected sex during a women’s menstrual cycle if the women is HCV-positive, due to the fact that Hepatitis C is contracted through blood.

What if I’m pregnant?

If I have hepatitis C and get pregnant, can I pass it on to my baby?
• The risk of HCV transmission to the baby is low compared to other viruses such as hepatitis B or HIV. Approximately 5 out of 100 mothers who have HCV might pass it to their babies before or at the time of birth.
• If a mother has both hepatitis C and HIV, the risk of the baby getting hepatitis C is much higher than when the mother is infected with hepatitis C alone. Anywhere from 22 to 36 out of 100 babies born to hepatitis C and HIV positive mothers will become infected with hepatitis C.

Can I do anything to reduce the risk of passing it to my baby?
• Unfortunately, there is currently no effective way to prevent or reduce the risk of hepatitis C transmission to the baby.
• The mode of delivery (caesarean or vaginal) does not seem to affect the rate of transmission, but firm evidence is lacking.
• However, for mothers infected with both hepatitis C and HIV, there are medications that can significantly reduce the risk of passing HIV to the baby.

If my baby is infected, how serious is it?
• Most babies who get hepatitis C from their
mothers are not able to get rid of the virus, and
many infected babies go on to develop chronic
inflammation of the liver.
• HCV positive babies may grow normally and
feel well for many years. However, they are at
risk of developing scarring of the liver, also
known as cirrhosis, many years later. A small
proportion of those who develop cirrhosis may
also get cancer of the liver.
What kind of care should my child
get if s/he has hepatitis C?
• A regular follow-up with a doctor experienced in
dealing with hepatitis C, for example a
gastroenterologist, hepatologist or infectious
disease specialist may be desirable.
• Infectious precautions should be taken, such as
avoidance of donating blood or sharing
toothbrushes and needles.
• For those with more advanced cases of hepatitis
C, there are treatments with medications such as
alpha-interferon and ribavirin. However,
experience with these medications in children
is limited.
For more information http://pubs.cpha.ca/PDF/P14/19083.pdf

Facts about Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Virus is an infection that affects the liver
Hepatitis C is contracted through blood to blood contact
As many as 300,00 Canadians are infected with the Hepatitis C Virus and of this number, only 25% of these Canadians are aware they carry the Hepatitis C Virus
Hepatitis C Virus affects each person differently ~ sometimes there are no symptoms, sometimes there are
Hepatitis C Virus can progress slowly or become a serious threat to your health in as little as five years
Hepatitis C patients should not use alcohol or drugs
Breast milk, semen, urine, saliva and tears may contain the Hepatitis C Virus
Hepatitis C is four times more prevalent than AIDS
There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C Virus

Symptoms

Hepatitis C often has no symptoms, and many people continue to feel well without realizing they have HCV. The disease however, may still be progressing and causing damage to the liver. Only a small percentage of people become sick enough to seek medical attention after contracting HCV, when they are diagnosed with acute Hepatitis. Jaundice (a yellow discoloration of the skin and the white of the eyeball) rarely occurs during the first few months and may then disappear. Many people feel well during the long silent part of the disease when the liver is slowly being damaged. Some people experience extreme fatigue and some have a persistent itchiness of the skin. A few even develop a skin rash, usually around the ankles or over the shins.

The disease progresses at a variable rate. Some patients (less then 20 patients in 100) can get rid of the infection without any treatment. The disease progresses more quickly if the infected person regularly drinks alcohol. About 20% of people with HCV will develop cirrhosis 20 years after getting the virus. After cirrhosis develops, complications may develop at any time. These include jaundice, swelling of the feet, ankles and abdomen with fluid, bleeding from large veins in the lower esophagus (swallowing tube) and encephalopathy (mental confusion). Once cirrhosis develops, the person is at higher-than-average risk for developing liver cancer, but only a small percentage of patients with cirrhosis eventually develop this complication.

Statistics

Among needle drug users, the infection rate is up to 80%.
Within the population of hemophilia, 70% have been infected.
Up to 270,000 Canadians are believed to have Hepatitis C, only a small amount of people know they are infected with Hepatitis C.
As of December 17, 2000: 1,999,560,000 people were infected with Hepatitis C virus.
I.V. drug use is responsible for about 30-40% of all identified cases of Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C is the leading cause for liver transplants.

Tattoos and piercing what are the risks?

Blood diseases are a real possibility when receiving a piercing or tattoo. The Hepatitis virus can survive for a long time in open air. Body artists must always sterilize (autoclave) their needles and never re-use them. To avoid bacterial infections, they must keep their shop clean, all surfaces and equipment disinfected and sterilized.

Amateur (unsafe) body artists may take some of the following risks:

Reusing needles – just like sharing IV drug syringe. Make sure you watch your body artist open a brand new package in front of you.
Reusing ink- Hepatitis C can survive in ink for some time. Fresh ink should be used for each person.
Used jewelry- it is highly recommended that brand-new sterile, surgical steel jewelry be used for piercing.
Piercing guns- only to be used for ears. Needles are to be used with any other body piercing.
Dirty shop- if shop surfaces are not disinfected. There is a possibility of acquiring a variety of bacterial infections.

Are you at Risk?

Hepatitis C is a virus, usually spread through blood to blood contact. People that are most likely to contract Hepatitis C are:

Drug users who share needles, spoons, straws and other drug equipment.
People who share razors or toothbrushes with people that have Hepatitis C.
People who get tattoos or have body parts pierced with dirty or un-sterilized needles.
People who received a blood transfusion or blood product before 1992.
Canada’s prison population.

IV drug use

Injection drug use is still the major mode of transmission of HCV in Canada. Not only do needles carry HCV other drug tools such as straws or inter nasal, inhalation of drugs can carry the HCV virus. Hepatitis C is acquired by injection drug user’s more rapidly than other viral infections.

Testing

Testing can be done at clinics, the doctor’s office and Teen Health Centre. Talk to your doctor to find out more about where you can get tested and how you can keep yourself protected.

Quiz:

Have you ever:

- Shared needles for piercing your body?
- Shared needles and/or ink for a tattoo?
- Shared tools for injection drug use; such as spoons, straws, needles, etc?
- Had a blood transfusion before 1990?
- Been in jail?
- Been in a psychiatric hospital or institution?
- Had many sexual partners and did not use protection?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions then YOU MAY BE AT RISK of Hepatitis B or C. Please contact a doctor and get tested. If you do test positive, it is better that you caught it early. Please don’t put yourself or others at risk. Read on to find out how you can protect yourself and others from HEPATITIS.

There is no cure or vaccine for this disease. But the sooner you find out that you have Hepatitis C and get treatment, the more likely you are to lead a normal life. It is very important that if you answered yes to any of the above questions that you be tested immediately. Where can I be tested?

You can get tested for Hepatitis C and other disease such as HIV at the Teen Health Centre, through your family doctor, or any medical clinic.

Where can I learn more:

If you would like to learn more about hepatitis C you can search the net on these sites:

www.liver.ca or call 1-800-563-5483
www.hepfi.org