The document provides an overview of hepatitis, focusing on its definition, types, particularly hepatitis C, and associated statistics in Canada. It highlights transmission methods, symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies, emphasizing the importance of the liver and the potential for chronic damage from hepatitis C. Additionally, it dispels myths about how hepatitis C is spread and gives guidelines for handling needles safely.

1. Hepatitis

2. Today We Will
• Define hepatitis, viral hepatitis &
the liver
• Learn about the 5 different types
of viral hepatitis
• Learn more about hepatitis C:
–The scope of the disease
–Signs/symptoms
–Risk factors and prevention

3. What Is Hepatitis?
• Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver
– Hepat (liver) + itis (inflammation)= Hepatitis
• Viral hepatitis means there is a specific
virus that is causing your liver to inflame
(swell or become larger than normal)

4. The Liver
• Is located in the upper right
quadrant of the abdomen
•Cleans the blood
•Regulates hormones
•Helps with blood clotting
•Produces bile
•Produces important proteins
•Maintains blood sugar levels
•And much, much, more
• The liver is essential
for life !

5. Inflammation
Walls of
scar
tissue
begin to
form
Healthy liver cells
become trapped
by a wall of scar
tissue

6. Viral Hepatitis
5 types:
A: fecal-oral transmission
B: sexual fluids & blood to blood
C: blood to blood
D: travels with B
E: fecal–oral transmission
Vaccine
Preventable

7. Hepatitis C Infection
• World - 170 million people
• Canada - 240,000 to 300,000
(0.8% to 1% of pop.)
• BC - 40,000 (1%)
• Vancouver - 11,350 (2%)
• DTES VIDUS Study - 1,437
•90% hep C posititve

8. Hepatitis C
• Affects each person differently
• No vaccine available
• Many people have the virus and
do not even know it
• Approximately 1 out of 100
Canadians infected
Overall cure rate with new treatment is 55%
*

9. Natural History of Hep C
Healthy
Liver
Acute
Infection
Chronic
Infection
20%
Clear the
Virus
80% Virus
Continues
to Damage
Liver
Only 20% will
show symptoms
Initially !

10. Natural History Con’t
Chronic
Hepatitis
Cirrhosis
20-30%
Liver
Cancer
1-4%/year
Most symptoms begin to show only when liver is more severely damaged

11. Factors Affecting
Progression
• 30yrs or longer if:
• Young at time of infection
• Healthy liver at time of infection
• Female
• 20yrs or less if:
• Drinking alcohol
• Co-infection (HIV, Hep B)
• Damaged liver before infection

12. Signs and Symptoms
• Individuals may have one or more
of the following symptoms, while
others experience no symptoms:
–Tiredness
–Nausea
–Muscle or joint pain
–Trouble sleeping
–Loss of appetite
–Weight loss
–Abdominal pain
–Itchiness
–Depression
–Dark urine (pee)

13. Signs and Symptoms
• A few may have specific liver
related symptoms initially:
– Pale stool (poo)
– Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or
eyes)

14. Risk Factors
HCV-infected household
member/sexual partner
(7%)
Tattooing
piercing
(6%)
Hospitalization
dental work
(6%)
Transfusion/dialysis
blood contact (4%)
Incarceration (3%)
No RF identified
(23%)
IDU/snorting
(51%)

15. Hepatitis C
Dispelling Myths
• Hepatitis C is not spread by:
–Casual contact
–Hugging/kissing
–Sharing eating utensils and drinking
glasses
–Sneezing/coughing
–Shaking hands
–Sitting on a toilet seat

16. Prevention
• Never share drug equipment
– Straws, bills, needles, syringes,
water, filter, cooker, pipes etc…
• Never share tooth brushes/razors
or any personal hygiene articles
that have blood on them (even tiny
amounts).
• Practice safer sex

17. Prevention
• Always make sure new & sterilized
equipment is being used for tattooing
& piercing
– Make sure ink for tattooing is not being
shared
• Do not touch dirty needles without
proper equipment or following proper
procedures

18. Dirty Needle Precautions
1. Handle only if you have proper equipment
• Sturdy pair of gloves, tongs or pliers and a puncture
proof container (heavy plastic or metal)
2. Place needle in puncture proof container
• Do not touch needle with bare hands and do not try to
recap needle if cap present
3. Can dispose container in garbage but better
if it is taken to health clinic or needle
exchange
4. At school, notify custodian, teacher, nurse
or police liaison officer

19. Needle Prick
1. Do not “milk” prick site
2. Wash the area with soap and water
3. Go to nearest emergency department
for assessment and treatment

20. Questions?