Hepatitis

Question 1

What is hepatitis?

Answer 1

• Chronic liver inflammation that occurs for more than 6 months.
• Can be acute or chronic.
• Acute can develop into chronic
• Chronic is very debilitating

Question 2

Cause of hepatitis

Answer 2

Exposure to drugs or chemicals, alcohol abuse, or medications.

Can occur as a secondary infection during another viral infection

Viral infections: A, B, C, D, E, G

Question 3

Hepatitis A - how is it spread?

Answer 3

• Spread via fecal-oral route.
• ingestion of fecal contaminants
• contaminated water
• shellfish from contaminated water
• food contaminated by handlers with Hep A
• Oral/anal sex

Question 4

Hepatitis A - prevention

Answer 4

• HAND WASHING
• Avoid contaminated food or water
• Immune globulin - 1st shot within 14 days and protected within 2-4 weeks. 2nd shot 6-12 months later. Immune for 20 yrs.

Need rest, avoid fatty foods, avoid alcohol, eat well, stay hydrated

Question 4

Hepatitis B- how is it spread?

Answer 4

Spread through blood and body fluid

• unprotected sex with infected partner
• sharing needles
• accidental needle sticks
• blood transfusions
• hemodialysis
• maternal-fetal route

Question 5

Hepatitis B symptoms

Answer 5

Anorexia
nausea and vomitting
fever and fatigue
RUQ pain
dark urine
light or clay color stool
joint pain
jaundice

Question 6

Hepatitis B prevention

Answer 6

standard precautions
vaccination
needle-less systems
immune globulin admin

Question 6

Hepatitis C - how is it spread?

Answer 6

sharing needles, blood, blood products or organ transplants, needle stick injuries, tattoos, intranasal cocaine use

Question 7

Hepatitis C prevention

Answer 7

Don’t share razors or toothbrush
no sharing of earrings
unprotected sex with affected partner

Question 8

Hepatitis C symptoms

Answer 8

Most are asymtomatic; damage ccurs over decades

Question 9

Hepatitis C medication treatment

Answer 9

Interferon (for Hep B and C)

Ribavirin (combo with interferon)

Question 10

Interferon

Answer 10

for Hep B and C
IM or SQ 3x/week
Flu-like symptoms (can give antiemetics)
Causes bone marrow suppression (Delayed)
Alopecia
Give med when symptoms are more active

Question 10

Ribavirin

Answer 10

Hemolytic anemia - watch CBC and RBC
PO
MIs have been recorded
Combo with interferon (esp for Hep C)

Question 11

Hepatitis D

Answer 11

Transmitted by parenteral routes (IV drug users)

Incubation 14-56 days

Associated with Hep B (co-virus) HIGH MORTALITY RATE

Question 12

Hepatitis E - how is it spread?

Answer 12

• Resembles Hep A
• Transmitted via fecal-oral route
• Present in endemic areas where waterborne epidemics occur and in travelers to those areas
• Mostly after rainfall that interfere with water supply
• Sanitation and proper disposal of human wastes

Question 13

Clinical manifestations of hepatitis

Answer 13

Abdominal pain
changes in skin or eye color (jaundice)
Arthralgia
Myalgia
Diarrhea/constipation
Fever
Lethargy
Malaise
n/v
Pruritus

Question 14

Treatment of hepatitis

Answer 14

Physical rest
Psychologica rest
Depressed so may need anitdepressants
Drug therapy! 
-Antiemetics
-antiviral meds (interferon, ribavirin)

avoid OTC meds (esp tylenol)
Avoid alcohol
avoid sex until antibody test is neative

Question 15

Diet for Hepatitis

Answer 15

High Carb and low fat b/c metabolized in liver

favorite foods

high calorie snacks

vitamins (consider ensure or boost)

small frequent meals

supplemental vitamins