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HBV
1 – What is Hepatitis B?
The word "Hepatitis" means inflammation of the liver and also refers to a group of viral infections that affect the liver. The most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV is a major global health problem and the most serious type of viral Hepatitis: about 2 billion people worldwide have been infected with the virus and about 350 million live with chronic infectionAs stated by the ECDC, those “who become chronically infected by Hepatitis B virus (from >30% among children to <5% among adults) are at a higher risk of serious consequences: liver cirrhosis (25%) and cancer (5%). Moreover, they act as a reservoir for continuing disease transmission”.
2 – How do you get Hepatitis B?
Modes of transmission are the same for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - hetero/homosexual; parenteral, mother to child – but HBV is from 50 to 100 times more infectious. Indeed, Hepatitis B is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.
Therefore, the risk of HBV infection increases when:
• Having sex without condom;
• Sharing of syringes and tools for the drug;
• Receiving a blood transfusion or treatment with blood products infected.
3 – Who’s most at risk?
All people are at risk. People at higher risk are: Illicit drug users (injecting, inhaling, snorting, popping pills); Individuals who get tattoos or body piercing; Individuals who use blood products for medical conditions (i.e. hemophilia); Health care workers and emergency personnel. Individuals who have sex without condom are at higher risk.
4 – Can Hepatitis B be prevented?
Yes. Since Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and body fluids, there are ways to help to prevent Hepatitis B infection. These include:
• Always using latex or polyurethane condoms with all sexual partners;
• Avoid sharing personal items with people. These include shavers, toothbrushes, earrings and nail clippers;
• Make sure that clean needles are used for tattoos and body piercings;
• If you visit a barber shop, make sure that he uses clean shavers;
• Avoid illegal drugs. If you do continue to inject illegal drugs, never share needles or syringes;
• If you are a medical professional, follow good practices for using and disposing of needles.
5 – What is the difference between “acute ” and “chronic” Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. It results from infection with the Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B can be either “acute” or “chronic”.
Acute Hepatitis B virus infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis B virus. Acute infection can — but does not always — lead to chronic infection.
Chronic Hepatitis B virus infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the Hepatitis B virus remains in a person’s body.
6 – What are the symptoms of acute Hepatitis B?
Although a majority of adults develop symptoms from acute Hepatitis B virus infection, many young children do not. Adults and children over the age of 5 years are more likely to have symptoms. Seventy percent of adults will develop symptoms from the infection.
Symptoms of acute Hepatitis B, if they appear, can include:
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored bowel movements
• Joint pain
• Jaundice (yellow color in the skin or the eyes)
About 15%–25% of people with chronic Hepatitis B develop serious liver conditions, such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer. Even as the liver becomes diseased, some people still do not have symptoms, although certain blood tests for liver function might begin to show some abnormalities.
7 – How can I know if I have Hepatitis B?
Talk to your general practitioner. Since many people with Hepatitis B do not have symptoms, doctors diagnose the disease by one or more blood tests. These tests look for the presence of antibodies or antigens and can help determine whether you:
• Have acute or chronic infection;
• Have recovered from infection;
• Are immune to Hepatitis B;
• Could benefit from vaccination;
8 – How is Hepatitis B treated?
There is no medication available to treat acute Hepatitis B. During this short-term infection, doctors usually recommend rest, adequate nutrition, and fluids, although some people may need to be hospitalized.
People with chronic Hepatitis B virus infection should seek the care or consultation of a doctor with experience treating Hepatitis B. This can include some internists or family medicine practitioners, as well as specialists such as infectious disease physicians, gastroenterologists, or hepatologists (liver specialists). People with chronic Hepatitis B should be monitored regularly for signs of liver disease and evaluated for possible treatment. Several medications have been approved for Hepatitis B treatment, and new drugs are in development. However, not every person with chronic Hepatitis B needs to be on medication, and the drugs may cause side effects in some patients.
9 – Can a person transmit Hepatitis B without having symptoms?
Yes. Many people with chronic Hepatitis B virus infection do not know they are infected since they do not feel or look sick. However, they still can spread the virus to others and are at risk of serious health problems themselves.
10 – Is Living together with a person with HBV dangerous?
Generally speaking not, unless you share razor blades, toothbrushes, scissors, combs, shaving brushes. There is no risk of HBV infection as a result of normal everyday life together with an infected person. The mere coexistence with infected people does not entail any risk of infection. This applies to handshakes, hugs, caresses, kisses and for any emotional, family, social contact except for unprotected sex. There may be risk if two people exchanging kisses have hemorrhagic gingivitis or other oral lesions. The infection cannot be transmitted through sneezes, coughing, urine, feces, vomit, tears.
HCV
1 – What is Hepatitis C?
The word "Hepatitis" means inflammation of the liver and also refers to a group of viral infections that affect the liver. The most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
HCV represents a major cause of acute Hepatitis and chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Indeed, about 80% of newly infected patients progressively develop chronic infection. Cirrhosis develops in about 10% to 20% of persons with chronic infection, and liver cancer develops in 1% to 5% of persons with chronic infection over a period of 20 to 30 years.
The disease burden of Hepatitis C is high, with up to 170 million people estimated to have had contact with the virus and 130 million people chronically infected worldwide. No Hepatitis C vaccination is yet available.
2 – How do you get Hepatitis C?
Modes of transmission are the same for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): hetero/homosexual; parenteral, mother to child. Indeed, Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.
Therefore, the risk of HCV infection increases when:
• Having sex without condom;
• Sharing of syringes and tools for the drug;
• Receiving a blood transfusion or treatment with blood products infected.
3 – Who’s most at risk?
All people are at risk. People at higher risk are: Illicit drug users (injecting, inhaling, snorting, popping pills); Individuals who get tattoos or body piercing; Individuals who use blood products for medical conditions (i.e. hemophilia); Health care workers and emergency personnel. Individuals who have sex without condom are at higher risk.
4 – Can Hepatitis C be prevented?
Since Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood and body fluids, there are ways to help to prevent Hepatitis C infection. These include:
• Always using latex or polyurethane condoms with all sexual partners;
• Avoid sharing personal items with people. These include shavers, toothbrushes, earrings and nail clippers;
• Make sure that clean needles are used for tattoos and body piercings;
• If you visit a barber, make sure that he uses clean shavers;
• Avoid illegal drugs. If you do continue to inject illegal drugs, never share needles or syringes;
• If you are a medical professional, follow good practices for using and disposing of needles.
5 – What is the difference between “acute ” and “chronic” Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. It results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C can be either “acute” or “chronic”. Approximately 75%-85% of people who become infected with Hepatitis C virus develop chronic infection.
Acute Hepatitis C virus infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis C virus. For most people, acute infection leads to chronic infection.
Chronic Hepatitis C virus infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the Hepatitis C virus remains in a person’s body. Hepatitis C virus infection can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver problems, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer.
6 – What are the symptoms of acute Hepatitis C?
Approximately 70%-80% of people with acute Hepatitis C do not have any symptoms. Some people, however, can have mild to severe symptoms soon after being infected, including:
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored bowel movements
• Joint pain
• Jaundice (yellow color in the skin or eyes).
7 – How can I know if I have Hepatitis C?
Talk to your general practitioner. Since many people with Hepatitis B do not have symptoms, doctors diagnose the disease by one or more blood tests. These tests look for the presence of antibodies or antigens and can help determine whether you:
• Have acute or chronic infection;
• Have recovered from infection.
8 – How is Hepatitis C treated?
There is no medication available to treat acute Hepatitis C infection. Doctors usually recommend rest, adequate nutrition, and fluids.
Each person should discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating Hepatitis. This can include some internists, family practitioners, infectious disease doctors, or hepatologists (liver specialists). People with chronic Hepatitis C should be monitored regularly for signs of liver disease and evaluated for treatment. The treatment most often used for Hepatitis C is a combination of two medicines, interferon and ribavirin. However, not every person with chronic Hepatitis C needs or will benefit from treatment. In addition, the drugs may cause serious side effects in some patients.
9 – Can a person transmit Hepatitis C without having symptoms?
Yes. Many people with chronic Hepatitis C virus infection do not know they are infected since they do not feel or look sick. However, they still can spread the virus to others and are at risk of serious health problems themselves.
10 – Is Living together with a person with HCV dangerous?
Generally speaking not, unless you share razor blades, toothbrushes, scissors, combs, shaving brushes. There is no risk of HCV infection as a result of normal everyday life together with an infected person. The mere coexistence with infected people does not entail any risk of infection. This applies to handshakes, hugs, caresses, kisses and for any emotional, family, social contact except for unprotected sex. There may be risk if two people exchanging kisses have hemorrhagic gingivitis or other oral lesions. The infection cannot be transmitted through sneezes, coughing, urine, feces, vomit, tears.
HIV
1 – What are HIV and AlDS?
“HIV” stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system. The immune system gives our bodies the ability to fight infections. HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease.
“AIDS” stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. It can take years for a person infected with HIV, even without treatment, to reach this stage. Having AIDS means that the virus has weakened the immune system to the point at which the body has a difficult time fighting infection. When someone has one or more specific infections, certain cancers, or a very low number of T cells, he or she is considered to have AIDS.
2 – How do you get HIV?
HIV is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected enters the body of someone who is not infected.
Therefore, the risk of HIV infection increases when:
• Having sex without condom;
• Sharing of syringes and tools for the drug;
• Receiving a blood transfusion or treatment with blood products infected.
3 – Who’s most at risk?
All people are at risk. People at higher risk are: Illicit drug users (injecting, inhaling, snorting, popping pills); Individuals who get tattoos or body piercing; Individuals who use blood products for medical conditions (i.e. hemophilia); Health care workers and emergency personnel. Individuals who have sex without condom are at higher risk.
4 – Can HIV be prevented?
Since HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids, there are ways to help prevent HIV infection. These include:
• Always using latex or polyurethane condoms with all sexual partners;
• Avoid sharing personal items with people. These include shavers, toothbrushes, earrings and nail clippers;
• Make sure that clean needles are used for tattoos and body piercings;
• If you visit a barber, make sure that he uses clean shavers;
• Avoid illegal drugs. If you do continue to inject illegal drugs, never share needles or syringes;
• If you are a medical professional, follow good practices for using and disposing of needles.
5 – Can I get HIV from kissing?
HIV is not transmitted casually, so kissing on the cheek is very safe. Even if the other person has the virus, your unbroken skin is a good barrier. No one has become infected from such ordinary social contact as dry kisses, hugs, and handshakes.
Open-mouth kissing is considered a very low-risk activity for the transmission of HIV. However, prolonged open-mouth kissing could damage the mouth or lips and allow HIV to pass from an infected person to a partner and then enter the body through cuts or sores in the mouth. Because of this possible risk, it is recommended against open-mouth kissing with an infected partner.
One case suggests that a woman became infected with HIV from her sex partner through exposure to contaminated blood during open-mouth kissing.
6 – What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS?
The only way to know if you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. You cannot rely on symptoms to know whether or not you are infected. Many people who are infected with HIV do not have any symptoms at all for 10 years or more.
The following may be warning signs of advanced HIV infection:
• Rapid weight loss;
• Dry cough;
• Recurring fever or profuse night sweats;
• Profound and unexplained fatigue;
• Swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck;
• Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week;
• White spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat;
• Pneumonia;
• Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids;
• Memory loss, depression, and other neurological disorders;
However, no one should assume they are infected if they have any of these symptoms. Each of these symptoms can be related to other illnesses. Again, the only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. You also cannot rely on symptoms to establish that a person has AIDS. The symptoms of AIDS are similar to the symptoms of many other illnesses.
7 – How can I know if I have HIV?
You might have HIV and still feel perfectly healthy. The only way to know for sure if you are infected or not is to be tested. Talk with a knowledgeable health care provider or counselor both before and after you are tested. You can go to your doctor or health department for testing.
8 – How is HIV/AIDS treated?
Although there is no cure for HIV infection, there are treatment options that can help people living with HIV experience long and productive lives. Currently, medicines can slow the growth of the virus or stop it from making copies of itself. Although these drugs don't kill the virus, they keep the amount of virus in the blood low. The amount of virus in the blood is called the viral load, and it can be measured by a test. Other medicines is used to fight illnesses that are caused by a weakened immune system.
9 – Can a person transmit HIV without having symptoms?
Yes. Many people with HIV infection do not know they are infected since they do not feel or look sick. However, they still can spread the virus to others and are at risk of serious health problems themselves.
10 – Is Living together with a person with HIV dangerous?
Generally speaking not, unless you share razor blades, toothbrushes, scissors, combs, shaving brushes. There is no risk of HIV infection as a result of normal everyday life together with an infected person. The mere coexistence with infected people does not entail any risk of infection. This applies to handshakes, hugs, caresses, kisses and for any emotional, family, social contact except for unprotected sex. There may be risk if two people exchanging kisses have hemorrhagic gingivitis or other oral lesions. The infection cannot be transmitted through sneezes, coughing, urine, feces, vomit, tears.
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