http://www.natap.org/2001/sep/mother_to_infant.pdf Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is acquired through transfusion
of infected blood or blood products or through routes not related to transfusion,
classified as communityacquired disease.
Mother-to-infant transmission of HCV may be intrauterine, intrapartum,
or postnatal.
No symptoms of liver disease were reported in the majority of case series;
this may be an underestimate because many studies focused on the rate
of transmission rather than the longterm outcome.
Taken altogether, the studies included in this review estimate the rate
of mother-to-infant transmission in the range of 1.0% to 5.0% in anti-HCV--positive
women.
Vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus in low-risk pregnant women.
ANTENALVIV
Produced by North West Communicable Disease Policy Sub Group
What is Hepatitis B?
It is an infectious disease caused by a virus called hepatitis B virus,
which mainly affects the liver.
The virus is passed on through blood as well as body fluids such as semen
and vaginal fluid from an already infected person.
Babies born to mothers who are carrying the hepatitis B virus have an
increased/high chance of getting a hepatitis B infection.
This will greatly reduce the chances of the newborn baby becoming a carrier
of the virus and so reduces the risk of illness in later life.
Your hospital doctor or family doctor (GP) will talk to you about this
and explain any further action, which may need to be taken.
hep a_e
http://www.southalabama.edu/nursing/herreranotes/hep
a_e.PDF . Serologic tests are needed to establish etiology B. Liver
enzymes are not liver function tests!
2. Severity of acute liver injury can only be assessed by looking at the
prothrombin time C. Atypical features of acute hepatitis that suggest
a non-viral etiology 1.
1. Increased risk of fulminant disease in patients with chronic hepatitis
C, regardless of histologic severity A. Transmission: oral-fecal route.
2. HAV-AB -total (includes IgG and IgM), if present, and IgM is negative,
it reflects past exposure to hepatitis A or prior immunization.
1. suspect in traveler with acute hepatitis, negative serology for A,
B, or C C. Transmission: fecal-oral D. Outcome: Similar to hepatitis A,
except: there is a high risk of fulminant hepatitis in pregnant patients.
Lauer_hepatitisc_NEJM2001
HEPATITIS C virus (HCV) infects an estimated 170 million persons
worldwide and thus represents a viral pandemic, one that is five times
as widespread as infection with the human immunodeficiency virus type
1 (HIV-1).
The institution of blood-screening measures in developed countries has
decreased the risk of transfusion-associated hepatitis to a negligible
level, but new cases continue to occur mainly as a result of injection-drug
use and, to a lesser degree, through other means of percutaneous or mucous-membrane
exposure.
HCV RNA assay should be used for diagnosis.68 A higher incidence of non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma has also been observed in HCV infection, both with and without
mixed cryoglobulinemia.71,72 This correlation is not seen in all geographic
areas; whether this difference is due to viral or host factors is not
known.
chapter2_a
In Australia there are differing rates of hepatitis C and HIV
co-infection in different population groups.
Having HIV often increases the amount of hepatitis C virus in the blood.
If hepatitis C is going to seriously affect a person's liver this will
happen more quickly in people who are co-infected with HIV and hepatitis
C, than in people who have hepatitis C alone.
Clinicians are increasingly recognising that it is important to consider
the treatment of hepatitis C in people who also have HIV.
J Sasadeuz 2002, Epidemiology and natural history of coinfection with
blood borne viruses, Plenary presentation Hepatitis C 3rd Australasian
Conference --Melbourne.
hep c FS
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver that is caused
by the hepatitis C virus.
If the body does not clear the virus in six months, the infection is said
to be chronic.
Tattooing and body piercing with contaminated equipment Transmission between
mother and baby has been documented, although the risk is low, no more
than 6%.
Some people do not have any symptoms.
Symptoms may occur from two weeks to six months after exposure but usually
within 6-9 weeks.
Until more is learned about this disease, all persons who have been diagnosed
as having hepatitis C should be considered infectious (able to pass the
hepatitis C virus through their blood and body fluids).
hep a b c
HAV is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver.
Symptoms may include light stools, dark urine, fatigue, fever, and jaundice
(yellow skin).
HBV is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver.
Contact with infected blood, seminal fluid, vaginal secretions, contaminated
needles, including tattoo/body piercing tools.
Jaundice by age group: < 5 yrs: < 10% $ 5 yrs: 30-50% Varies by
age of onset of infection.
HCV is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver.
Not applicable Two doses of vaccine to anyone over the age of two.
Use household bleach to clean surfaces contaminated with feces, such as
changing tables.
seh-10
Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by the hepatitis B
virus (HBV), which is present in the blood and body fluids of an infected
individual.
HBV infection can cause acute illness that leads to loss of appetite,
tiredness, pain in muscles, joints, or stomach, diarrhea or vomiting,
and yellow skin or eyes (jaundice).
HBV can also cause chronic infection, especially in infants and children,
which leads to liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer, and death.
Transmission could occur in the school setting as a result of exposure
to infected blood.
The hepatitis B vaccination is a noninfectious vaccine given in three
injections in the upper arm.
hepati
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/epi/93/hepati.pdf Among viral causes of gastroenteritis, only hepatitis A is
reportable in New York State.
Hepatitis A (HAV), formerly known as infectious hepatitis, is a viral
infection affecting the liver.
Illness tends to be mild in young children and more severe in adults.
Most cases occurring in New York State are due to person-to-person transmission
and have resulted in several community wide outbreaks.
Since 1991, a shift in the age distribution occurred involving a distinct
increase in people aged 20-40 years, primarily in New York City males.
A successful field trial of a single dose hepatitis A vaccine has already
been completed in a New York Hasidic community.
HERBS
The use of herbs is controversial in the medical community
largely because of the lack of evidence-based research supporting efficacy.
Do this even if you feel that your healthcare provider is not supportive
of the use of supplements or herbs.
The goal of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is to set industry standards
for drugs and dietary supplements in the U.S. The label of a supplement
that states it meets the standards of the USP is worth considering.
The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia is also developing standardization guidelines
for the American marketplace.
Drugs and supplements can interact with each other as well as affect other
health conditions.
6oct
Estimates of the number of new cases of hepatitis C virus infection
increased 45% between 1997 and 2001, a new national report compiled by
the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research has shown.
"In addition to increasing levels of new hepatitis C infections,
the burden of serious liver disease from established hepatitis C infection
is increasing," Mr Puplick said.
It is estimated that there were around 210,000 people living with hepatitis
C at the end of 2001, compared to around 190,000 at the end of 1997.
Of people living with hepatitis C, the overwhelming majority, 83%, are
estimated to have been infected through injecting drug use.
Hep B_fact_sheet
Hepatitis is a disease of the liver.
A baby who is immunized against hepatitis B probably won't get jaundice
caused by hepatitis B virus, but the baby might get jaundice resulting
from other health problems.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of hepatitis, an infection of
the liver that can lead to death.
More than 2 billion people worldwide have been infected with HBV and 350
million are chronic hepatitis B carriers.
Anyone can contract hepatitis B, but infants and young children often
suffer the most because they have a greater risk of becoming chronic carriers.
The best way to prevent hepatitis B is through immunization with the hepatitis
B vaccine.
md_hepc_plan
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common chronic
bloodborne viral infection in Maryland as well as in the United States.
The Secretary requested that the work group, led by the Epidemiology and
Disease Control Program, DHMH and the AIDS Administration, DHMH, develop
a plan to address the prevention and control of HCV infection in Maryland.
Goal 1: Maryland health care providers and other professionals will have
a high level of awareness concerning HCV prevention and control, including
national recommendations and resources in Maryland for primary and secondary
prevention.
Objective 1: By Year 1, DHMH Office of Health Care Quality will provide
information about the new State law requiring HCV reporting to all Directors
of Laboratories licensed in Maryland to provide medical laboratory testing
services.
b1991_31
http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/bulletins/docs/b1991_31.pdf Hepatitis B (HBV) is a parenterally transmitted viral infection
of the liver.
Distinguishing acute from chronic infection is possible with the use of
serologic tests.
Indicates infection with HBV, usually persists throughout clinical illness,
present in acute and chronic infection.
Detectable during first 6 months after infection; presence of this marker
indicates acute infection.
The presence of IgM anti-HBc establishes the diagnosis of acute HBV infection.
The presence of HBsAg alone is not sufficient for the diagnosis of acute
infection.
IgG anti-HBc is reported simply as anti-HBc (or HBcAb) and may be present
in acute or chronic infection as well as in patients who have recovered,
developed immunity and are no longer infectious.
fs_hepatitis-a
Symptoms are abdominal pain, fever, tiredness, loss of appetite
and nausea followed by yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Outbreaks may be due to water or food being contaminated with feces; eating
raw or undercooked shellfish, mostly oysters, taken from waters contaminated
with the virus; or eating food not cooked long enough at the correct temperature.
Symptoms may appear from 15-50 days after exposure.
Complete recovery is the rule; this infection has a very low death rate.
Death or serious illness may result when a person is also infected with
Hepatitis B or C or already has other liver disease.
hcvsum
Summary Report: Survey of Hepatitis C Virus counseling and
testing services at HIV counseling and testing sites, and health service
sites.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health's Community Epidemiology
and Disease Control Unit initiated a survey to evaluate community need
and availability of Hepatitis C Virus counseling and testing among current
providers of HIV counseling and testing.
HIV/AIDS services A majority of the programs (95%) reported being direct
service providers of HIV/AIDS services (positive response to providing
HIV education and/or HIV testing and/or HIV Individual counseling and/or
HIV treatment) (table 1).
Hepatitis C Virus services In regards to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) related
services, 35% of the programs reported providing HCV education, 47% reported
providing HCV testing, 49% reported providing HCV individual counseling,
and 25% reported providing HCV treatment (table 3).
