Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is spread when blood from an HCV-infected person, even microscopic amounts, enters the body of someone who is not infected. Because of how it spreads, certain life circumstances, jobs, and behaviors can increase your risk for hepatitis C.

It’s important to know that even people who have cleared or been cured of the virus can be re-infected.

Hepatitis C can affect people differently. Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur with an acute infection, they can appear any time from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure. Symptoms of acute hepatitis C can include:

• Dark urine or clay-colored stools
• Feeling tired
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, stomach pain, throwing up
• Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)

Symptoms of chronic hepatitis C can take decades to develop and are typically the same as those for acute infection.

Hepatitis C usually doesn’t have symptoms. Getting testing is the only way to know if you have hepatitis C.

Screening should be done for all adults, all pregnant women, and for anyone who may have been recently exposed. If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, see your health care provider to start begin treatment without delay.

Left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death. You can live without symptoms for years, so testing is the only way to know if you have the virus.

Non-professional tattooing is a major concern, especially in select populations such as those who have been incarcerated. Getting tested for hepatitis is important if you have ever received a tattoo.

Hepatitis C/HIV co-infection means a person is infected with both the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). There are an estimated 400,000 persons co-infected with HCV/HIV in the United States. Intravenous drug use seems to increase the risk of co-infection; it is estimated that 60%-90% of people who contracted HIV from intravenous drug use also have HCV.

HCV/HIV Similarities

• High levels of viral replication
• Cause of chronic infection that can persist for many years
• Most people do not experience symptoms early in the course of infection

Impacts

Because HIV diminishes the ability of the immune system to fight off infection, it speeds up the rate of liver damage caused by HCV. This places the co-infected patient at a greater risk for cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure compared to persons infected with HCV alone.

One of the functions of the liver is to process medications. It is very important that those patients co-infected with HCV/HIV take precautions to take care of their liver.

There is a cure for hepatitis C. HCV is treated with antiviral medicines. Clients may be linked to the Florida Department of Health’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) for hepatitis C treatment if co-infected with HIV.

Most people get infected with HCV by sharing needles, syringes, or other paraphernalia used for injection drug use.

You can also get infected by sharing razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, or personal medical equipment like glucose monitors.

While uncommon, hepatitis C can spread during sex. Most reported cases of transmission have been among men who have sex with men.

Hepatitis Resource Guide, by county

The Florida Viral Hepatitis Planning Group was established in 2004 to encourage and promote the combined efforts of dedicated, skilled individuals and organizations to reduce the growing burden of viral hepatitis on Floridians, their families, and communities. The group includes representation from the community, private health care, public health, corrections, academic institutions, drug treatment, and other areas.

Currently, the program is working to establish a statewide Viral Hepatitis Elimination Plan under a new advisory group.

This webinar is a one-hour, basic training and can be accessed through TRAIN Florida.

• Any health care worker can participate in the training
• Course number 1055759
• View how to setup a Florida TRAIN account

Continuing education credit of one hour is available for all licensed nurses in the state of Florida. Upon completion, you will have the option to print out a certificate. We also create a weekly report of nurses who take the class and send the information to the Office of Performance Improvement for CEUs.

Learning Objectives

• Describe symptoms, risk factors, and modes of transmission for hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV)
• Identify individuals who should be referred for hepatitis vaccination and/or testing
• Facilitate a provider-client conversation on viral hepatitis risk factors and test results
• Recognize laboratory test results
• Describe risk factors for HIV and hepatitis co-infection

This is a one-hour overview of laboratory testing, results, and interpretations, and can be accessed through TRAIN Florida.

• Any health care worker can participate in the training
• Course number 1059496
• View how to setup a Florida TRAIN account

Continuing education credit of one hour is available for all licensed nurses in the state of Florida. Upon completion, you will have the option to print out a certificate. We also create a weekly report of nurses who take the class and send the information to the Office of Performance Improvement for CEUs.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the available serological tests for hepatitis A, B, and C
• Provide an overview of interpretations for hepatitis A, B, and C test results
• Distinguish between acute and chronic viral hepatitis infections, and the serological makers associated with each
• Understand the efficacy of the viral hepatitis vaccine and make recommendations to clients

National Viral Hepatitis Strategic Plan, 2021-2025

• A-B-C Information Chart (English/Spanish)
• A-B-C Information Chart (Creole)
• Laboratory Test Results and Interpretations for Hepatitis A, B, and C
• Hepatitis Laboratory Reporting Guidelines Handout
• Hepatitis Provider Reporting Guidelines Handout