This document provides information about hepatitis, including the different types (A, B, C, D, E, X). It defines hepatitis as inflammation of the liver, which can be caused by various viruses. It describes the symptoms, modes of transmission, risk factors for chronic infection, and recommendations for preventing the spread of hepatitis C. The liver's important functions are also outlined.

1. PREPARED BY: Saifuddin Lala
M.B.A(Pharma)

2.  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)

3.  The word hepatitis comes from the
Ancient Greek word hepar (root word
hepat) meaning 'liver', and the Latin itis
meaning inflammation. Hepatitis means
injury to the liver with inflammation of the
liver cells.

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

6. 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
Adapted from Corneil, 2003

7.  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
*BC Hepatitis Service 2003
Overall cure rate with new treatment is 55%
*

8. Adapted from Lauer and Walker, NEJM 2001
Healthy
Liver
Acute
Infection
Chronic
Infection
20%
Clear the
Virus
80% Virus
Continues
to Damage
Liver
Only 20% will
show symptoms
Initially !

9. Hepatitis D - only a person who is already infected
with Hepatitis B can become infected with Hepatitis
D. It is caused by the virus HDV (Hepatitis D Virus).
Infection is through contact with infected blood,
unprotected sex, and perforation of the skin with
infected needles. The liver of a person with Hepatitis
D swells

10. •Hepatitis E - a person can become infected by
drinking water that contains HEV (Hepatitis E Virus).
The liver swells but there is no long-term consequence.
Infection is also possible through anal-oral sex.
•Hepatitis X - if a hepatitis cannot be attributed to the
viruses of hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E, it is called Hepatitis
X. In other words, hepatitis of an unknown virus.

11. Chronic
Hepatitis
Cirrhosis
20-30%
Liver
Cancer
1-4%/year
Most symptoms begin to show only when liver is more severely damaged

12.  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
Adapted from Bigham, BC Hepatitis Services 2002

13.  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)

14.  A few may have specific liver related
symptoms initially:
 Pale stool (poo)
 Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

15.  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.  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.  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. 1. Handle only if you have proper equipment
 Sturdy pair of gloves, tongs or pliers and a puncture proof
container (heavy plastic or metal)
1. Place needle in puncture proof container
 Do not touch needle with bare hands and do not try to recap
needle if cap present
1. Can dispose container in garbage but better if it is
taken to health clinic or needle exchange

19. REFERENCES
1.Pawlotsky, J. M. 2002. Molecular diagnosis of viral
hepatitis. Gastroenterology 122:1554-1568..
2. Hoofnagle JH. Course and outcome of hepatitis C.
HEPATOLOGY 2002; 36(suppl 1):S21–S29.
3. Farci P, Alter HJ, Wong D, Miller RH, Shih JW, Jett
B, Purcell RH. A long-term study of hepatitis C virus
replication in non-A,non-B hepatitis. N Engl J Med
19
4.WHO Hepatitis . Who.int. 2010-12-08. Retrieved
2012-08-2691;325:98–104.