World Hepatitis Day highlights the quest to eradicate hepatitis C in Kentucky

Kentucky Public Health Department Viral Hepatitis Program:

The Viral Hepatitis Program (VHP) is responsible for preventive efforts and enhanced monitoring of adult hepatitis B, adult hepatitis C, and perinatal hepatitis C. VHP is working with KDPH’s Reported Diseases section and the Immunization Department for other hepatitis and hepatitis activity. The program emphasizes the role of harm reduction and the health of drug users and strives to focus the voices of experienced people.

Specifically, VHP aims to:

• Develop, implement and maintain plans for the rapid detection and response of acute hepatitis B and acute hepatitis C outbreaks
• We systematically collect, analyze, interpret, and distribute data to characterize trends and implement public health interventions for acute hepatitis B and acute and chronic hepatitis C.
• Supports viral hepatitis eradication planning and monitoring, helping to maximize access to testing, treatment and prevention
• Improve access to PWID services in areas where the effects of drug use are imbalanced

What is viral hepatitis? | CDC

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C spreads through contact with the blood of an infected person. Today, most people are infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles and other equipment used to prepare and inject medicines. For some people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness. However, for more than half of people infected with the hepatitis C virus, it is a long-term chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C can cause serious and even life-threatening health problems such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. People with chronic hepatitis C are often asymptomatic and do not feel sick. When symptoms appear, they are often a sign of advanced liver disease. There is no hepatitis C vaccine. The best way to prevent hepatitis C is to avoid behaviors that can spread the disease, especially drug injections. It is important to be tested for hepatitis C. Because treatment can cure most people with hepatitis C in 8-12 weeks.

How does hepatitis C spread?

The hepatitis C virus usually spreads when someone comes into contact with the blood of an infected person. This can happen in the following ways:

• Sharing Drug Injection Devices-Today, most people become infected with hepatitis C by sharing needles, syringes, or other devices used to prepare and inject drugs.
• Medical exposure
• Childbirth-Approximately 6% of babies born to infected mothers develop hepatitis C.
• Sex with an infected person-In rare cases, hepatitis C can spread during sex, but is more often reported among men who have sex with men.
• Unregulated tattoos / body piercings
• Sharing personal items-By sharing blood glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and other items that may have come into contact with infected blood, you can get infected, even if you can’t see even a small amount. There is a possibility.

Hepatitis C does not spread by sharing dishes, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing or sneezing. It also does not spread through food or water.

What are the symptoms of acute hepatitis C?

• Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)
• Decreased appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• Stomachache
• heat
• Dark urine
• Light colored stool
• Joint pain
• Malaise

You may need to be tested for hepatitis C if:

• 18 years or older (take a test at least once in a lifetime)
• Pregnant (take a test for each pregnancy)
• I’m currently injecting medicine (take regular tests)
• I’ve been injected with medicines, even once or years ago
• Infected with HIV
• Have abnormal liver function tests or liver disease
• Hemodialysis
• Received blood donation or organs before July 1992
• Received coagulation factor concentrate before 1987
• Exposed to blood from people with hepatitis C
• Born to a mother with hepatitis C

process

HCV Drugs | Hepatitis C Online (uw.edu)

Treatment is recommended for all people with acute or chronic hepatitis C (including children and adolescents over 3 years of age) unless they are pregnant. Current treatments usually include oral therapy (tablets) for only 8-12 weeks, with few side effects and cure over 90%. In Kentucky, you can get treatment without drinking alcohol or advanced liver disease.

contact address

• Phone number: (502) 564-3418
• Fax: (502) 564-0542

Destination

275 E. Main St. HS2E-A
Frankfort 40621, Kentucky

Epidemiology and Health Planning Department

Other useful links:

https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/digestive-health-program/conditions/hepatitis-c

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hepatitis-day/2022