HEPATITIS C

HEPATITIS C

1. HEPATITIS - C DR. MAHESWARI JAIKUMAR [email protected]

2. HEPATITIS -C Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease due to infection with hepatitis C virus

3. It can range in severity from mild illness lasting to a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness It is the most common virus that infect the liver and has been shown as a major cause of parenterally transmitted hepatitis

4. TRANSMISSION The hepatitis C virus is mostly transmitted through exposure to infectious blood

5. This can occur through: 1. Receipt of contaminated blood transfusions, blood products and organ transplantation 2.Injections given with contaminated syringes and needle stick injuries in health care setting

6. 3. Injecting – drug use 4.being born to a hepatitis C- infected other

7. Hepatitis C can be transmitted through sex with an infected person or sharing of personal items contaminated with infectious blood Hepatitis C is not spread through breast milk, food or water or by casual contact such as hugging, kissing and sharing food or drinks with an infected person

8. INCUBATION PERIOD The incubation period for hepatitis C is 2 weeks to 6 months

9. SYMPTOMS Following initial infection, approximately 80% of people do not exhibit any symptoms Acutely symptomatic individuals may exhibit fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, grey coloured faeces, joint pain and jaundice

10. 75-85% of newly infected persons develop chronic liver disease, 5-20% develop cirrhosis liver and 1-5% die from cirrhosis or liver cancer

11. DIAGNOSIS Diagnosis of acute infection is often missed because a majority of infected people have no symptoms

12. Common methods of antibody detection cannot differentiate between acute and chronic infection The presence of antibodies against the hepatitis C virus indicates infection

13. The h epatitis C virus Recombinant I mmunoblot Assay (RIBA) and hepatitis C virus RNA testing are used to confirm the diagnosis

14. Early diagnosis has potentials to prevent health problems from infection and prevent transmission to family members and other close contacts They are as follows:

15. People who received blood, blood products or organs before screening for hepatitis C virus Current or former injecting drug users Individuals on long term haemodialysis Health care workers

16. Individuals with HIV infection Individuals with liver disease Infants borne to infected mothers

17. TREATMENT Hepatitis does not always require treatment There are 6 genotypes and each react differently to treatment

18. Careful screening is necessary before starting the treatment to determine the most appropriate approach for the patient

19. Combination anti viral therapy with interferon and ribavirin has been the mainstay for treating hepatitis C Two new therapeutic agents telaprevir and beceprevir have been used in certain countries

20. PREVENTION PRIMARY PREVENTION: There is no vaccination for hepatitis C THE RISK OF INFECTION CAN BE REDUCED BY AVOIDING:

21. Unnecessary and unsafe injections Unsafe blood products Unsafe sharp waste collection and disposal Use of illicit drugs and sharing of injection equipment

22. Unprotected sex with hepatitis C infected people Sharing of sharp personal items that may have been contaminated with infected blood Tattoos, piercings and acupuncture performed with contaminated equipment

23. SECONDARY & TERTIARY PREVENTION WHO recommendations: 1. Education and counselling on options for care and treatment 2. Immunization with the hepatitis A and B vaccines to prevent co-infection from hepatitis virus to protect the liver

24. Early and appropriate medical management including antiviral therapy if appropriate Regular monitoring for early diagnosis of chronic liver disease

25. THANK YOU