...rare cases, a biopsy (taking a tiny piece of the liver to be analyzed) of the liver can be recommended. Acute viral hepatitis is generally straightforward to diagnose. Patients who report symptoms of fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, darkening of the urine, and jaundice (a yellow appearance to the skin, and to the white portion of the eyes), are given a blood test to confirm viral hepatitis. Chronic viral hepatitis B and C, on the other hand, are commonly asymptomatic, or result in mild nonspecific symptoms such as chronic fatigue. Jaundice, for chronic viral hepatitis patients, develops only when the liver is considerably damaged. Thus, these patients can remain undiagnosed for years or even decades. The Situation Prior to Launch Background Prior to 1990: In 1963, a blood test to detect the Hepatitis B virus was developed; similarly, in 1973, an effective screen for Hepatitis A was approved. Still, there were many cases of the Hepatitis virus after 1973, from blood transfusion, that were neither Hepatitis A nor B. It is was believed that most of these negative Hepatitis-A and –B results were, in fact, Hepatitis C. It took a joint effort by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Chiron to identify the Hepatitis C virus in 1989, and a year later, blood banks began screening its donors for the virus. It is believed that “300,000 Americans contracted hepatitis C through blood transfusions or blood products” prior to 1990. In the 1990s: Pharmaceutical companies began introducing...
Words: 411 - Pages: 2
...INTRODUCTION Hepatitis implies aggravation of the liver. Poisons, certain medications, a few maladies, substantial liquor use and bacterial and viral diseases can all reason hepatitis. HCV is a small positive-strand ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus in the Flaviviridae family (1). Hepatitis is additionally the name of a group of viral diseases that influence the liver the most well known sorts are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is an infectious liver sickness that ranges in seriousness from a gentle ailment enduring a couple of weeks to a genuine, long lasting disease that assaults the liver. It comes about because of contamination with the Hepatitis C infection which is spread fundamentally through contact with the blood of a contaminated individual. Hepatitis C can be either "acute" or "chronic." In 1987, hepatitis C virus (HCV) was discovered to be the causative agent of a type of hepatitis previously known as non-A, non-B hepatitis (2). Hepatitis C infection is a real reason for liver ailment overall and a...
Words: 861 - Pages: 4
...Your Liver and Hepatitis. The Liver Facts . One out of every 10 Americans is affected by liver disease. Liver disease is one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. There are more than100 liver diseases. The good news is we can help prevent the liver diseases and keep it healthy. Overview of the liver. The liver is the second largest organ in the body and is located under the cage on the right side. It weighs about three pounds and is shaped like a football that is flat on one side. The liver performs many functions in the body. It processes what you eat and drink into energy and nutrients that your body can use. The liver also removes harmful substances from your blood. Functions of the liver include: • Filters your blood • Makes proteins, including blood-clotting factors (needed to help you heal) • Stores vitamins, sugars, fats, and other nutrients • Helps regulate hormones • Releases chemicals and nutrients into the body when needed • Makes bile needed for digesting fats Liver damage can lead to swollen, shrunken, hard, or scarred liver tissue. Such livers do not work well, and the person can get very sick, or even die, if the liver stops working altogether. Symptoms of liver disease Acute (When symptoms occur suddenly it is categorized as acute process) Tiredness or weakness Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) Fever Nausea and vomiting Dark urine or very pale colored...
Words: 1588 - Pages: 7
...Public Health Hepatitis B Jorge Cruz Jr Grand Canyon University According to the Hepatitis B Foundation, the virus has infected about 2 billion people worldwide, which is about 1 person out of every three (Our Accomplishments, 2014). Hepatitis B virus or the HBV is a virus that can cause a lifetime of damage to the liver. “Hepatitis” on its own refers to the inflammation of the live, although there are many causes of inflammation of liver the family of the hepatitis viruses are the most common with Hep A, B, and C being most prominent of the family. Although the family of the hepatitis’ viruses are similar in structure, they differ in transmission and infection. For instances, Hepatitis A is transmitted fecal to oral, whereas Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through exchange of bodily fluids (Hepaitits B, 2008). Hepatitis B can be spread when infected blood, semen, or any other bodily fluid comes in contact with a non-infected person’s bloodstream. The CDC, provides possible situation when this occurs, for example, during birth (mother is infected could pass down to infant), during sex, or when sharing items that come in contact with a infected person’s blood like toothbrush, needles, or razors. Since it is spread through bodily fluid people at risk for infection are those who come close contact with other people’s bodily fluid frequently this includes but not limited to healthcare workers, men who have sex with men, infants of infected mothers, people with multiple sex...
Words: 1175 - Pages: 5
...bringing to the forefront is Hepatitis C. It is an infection of the liver, which has many forms, type 1 being the most common in the U.S. I will start by introducing the history of the disease and give a description of the disease and it’s affects to the body.1. “The hepatitis C virus is an RNA virus that belongs to the family flaviviridae.”1. “HCV replicates in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes””1. Persistent infection appears to rely on rapid production of virus and continuous cell-to-cell spread, along with a lack of vigorous T-cell immune response to HCV antigens” Anatomy To better give a clear understanding of the failing organs I will address the body systems. I will further explain the anatomy of the systems that are involved. Transmission & Cause 1.“The transmission of HCV is primarily through exposure to infected blood. Risks for transmission include blood transfusion before 1992, intravenous drug use, high-risk sexual activity, solid organ transplantation from an infected donor”2.” the fact that the genetic information of the virus is stored in RNA, not DNA, has important consequences in the life cycle of the virus, and gives hepatitis C its dangerous ability to mutate.”2.” Hepatitis C, as an RNA virus, has a powerful reproductive strategy. Because it stores its information in a "sense" strand of RNA, the viral RNA itself can be directly read by the host cell's ribosomes, functioning like the normal mRNA present in the cell.”2. Hepatitis C is not spread through casual...
Words: 733 - Pages: 3
...Discovering the Virus Responsible for Hepatitis C Katelyn Sampson Northern College ACE Biology Professor Nikki Wood May 21st 2012 . Discovering the Virus Responsible for Hepatitis C You wouldn’t know just by looking at someone that they could potentially have a life threatening liver disease. Approximately “4 million” Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus. In the 1940’s, researchers have found two different types of viral hepatitis. Infectious hepatitis, or hepatitis A, is transmitted by contact with feces from infected individuals. Serum Hepatitis B is transmitted through the blood and other body fluids. The hepatitis B virus was isolated in the 1960’s and the hepatitis A virus was isolated in the 1970’s. After the isolation of these two viruses, assays were developed in order to identify individuals who were infected with hepatitis A or hepatitis B viruses. A form of hepatitis occurs in patients that test negative for hepatitis A or B. This type of hepatitis, called non-A, non-B also known as “NANBH” but now referred to as hepatitis C, represented greater than “90% of transfusion” associated hepatitis. HCV is also known to be a cause of chronic disease which can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. With the knowledge of these facts, in this experiment we find out if the HCV anti-body assay will detect the hepatitis C virus in the blood. A testable hypothesis is if the recombinant-based assay for HCV will detect HCV anti-bodies in...
Words: 677 - Pages: 3
...effective have harm reduction interventions been in reduction of Hepatitis C incidence among Injecting Drug Users in the UK? 1.0 Introduction The prevalence of Hepatitis C (HCV) internationally is largely unknown mainly due to the fact that most individuals have no symptoms in the early stages of the infection. The WHO estimates the figure at 170 million people infected with HCV and it is estimated that approximately 3-4 million people are newly infected each year . Injecting drug users (IDUs) are at greatest risk from HCV through the sharing of injecting paraphernalia. In the UK estimates from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) data has the number of people chronically infected with HCV at 216000 of which 90% are attributable to IDUs with over 40% of the IDU population being HCV antibody positive . Some estimates of numbers with HCV in the UK suggest about 500000 . In 2010, new HCV infections diagnosed in the UK was 10,381 of which there were 7384, 106, 2129, and 312 in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales respectively . There appears to be higher rate of transmission among IDU now than a decade ago; 23% compared to 12% in 2000 Although UK is classified as a low prevalence country for HCV; The HCV poses numerous challenges for public health in terms of potentially preventable mortality and morbidity. According to NICE guidance, it would cost the NHS about £1.6 billion to treat all Hepatitis C patients. The cost therefore of failing to diagnose and treat...
Words: 4151 - Pages: 17
...Hepatitis c is a blood born virus that affects the liver. The disease was discovered in 1989. The virus infects others when an infected person comes in contact with an infected person. There are several ways a person can be infected by hepatitis, sharing needles, blood transfusion, piercing, tattoos, from mother to infant, and intercourse. Hepatitis is a single stranded RNA virus that is enveloped virus.” Binding to the cell surface, HCV particles enter the cell by receptor-mediated endocytosis.” That is how the virus enters and invades, there is no known fact on where the virus originated. “There are at least six major HCV genotypes and more than 50 subtypes of HCV.” The book describes how the genotypes are categorized by different locations....
Words: 745 - Pages: 3
...Hepatitis B- Benchmark Brandy Barlow Grand Canyon University: NRS-427V-O508 January 11, 2015 Hepatitis B- Benchmark Hepatitis B is a viral infection that targets the liver and is caused by the hepatitis B virus. It can cause both acute and chronic disease within the body. Hepatitis or Hep B is an infection of the liver that can be deadly. It causes inflammation of the liver and is a major health problem all over the globe. Chronic liver disease and chronic infections put people at higher risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and or liver cancer. The majority of people with Hep B do not have any symptoms during the actual infection phase. There are those however, that experience jaundice (yellowing of the skin), dark colored urine, increased fatigue, nausea, with or without vomiting, and abdominal pain. Symptoms of hepatitis B may not show up for 6 months after the initial infection. Early onset of symptoms may include: loss of appetite, fatigue, low grade fever, muscle and joint pain. An infected person may have no symptoms, they may feel sick for a day up to weeks, or they may become very ill very quickly. This is called fulminant hepatitis. (Hepatitis B, 2013, pg. 1). Complications may arise in some people causing a chronic liver infection that can become cirrhosis or liver cancer. At least ninety percent of healthy adults that contract the Hepatitis B virus recover and are rid of it within six months. Hep B can be transmitted to others even if the infected...
Words: 1386 - Pages: 6
...PKIDs’ PHR www.pkids.org 1 ADVOCACY ADVOCACY Legal Protections for Children with Viral Hepatitis Updated 2006 Overview In the United States, three federal laws are critical in protecting children with viral hepatitis against discrimination in schools, daycare centers, athletic programs, camps and other areas of daily life. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the most powerful law safeguarding the rights of children in public and private schools and daycare centers. The law also prevents any organization or business from discriminating against a person because of a real or perceived disability, such as an infectious disease. A second law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, bars schools, colleges and other organizations receiving federal funding from discriminating against children with disabilities. Section 504 identifies chronic liver disease as a “hidden disability.” Most advocates say hepatitis B and C are disabilities that are protected by ADA and Section 504—even though these chronic liver diseases are relatively asymptomatic in children. A third law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (commonly called FERPA or the Buckley Amendment) prevents school officials from divulging medical information about a student to anyone beyond essential school personnel. ADA also has provisions that protect student medical records. Many states also have civil rights laws that, similar to ADA, protect people with infectious diseases and other disabilities...
Words: 4435 - Pages: 18
...Liver Cirrhosis Your Name HCS 245 April 16, 2014 University of Phoenix Dr. Tobey Tam Liver Cirrhosis As the Directors at the Sharp Rees Medical Facility, we will be talking about the liver. The liver is a very important organ in the human body as it does not just perform one function but is involved in multiple tasks. Some interesting facts about the liver; it weighs under five pounds, it has a shape like a half football and everyone is born with one. Just like most other disease or disorder, if the liver has not been taken care of properly there are many negative outcomes that can affect and destroy the liver. There are many complications when the liver is abused or damage for example cancer, hemochromatosis, gallbladder or even liver cirrhosis (Lee, 2014). We will be focusing more about liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis has been the 12th leading cause of death in the United States in 2010 (Murphy, Xu, & Kochenek, 2013). We will primarily focus on liver cirrhosis also known as Hepatitis C, provide you with general information as well as the possible solutions, data regarding the infected population and giving some resources/awareness about this disease. To start is to give information about liver cirrhosis. This disease causes the liver to be scarred and damaged. The liver is damaged with scar tissue in and around the liver as new cells are trying to restructure but instead they turn into regenerated nodules (Lee, 2014). The redeveloped nodules are what give...
Words: 1105 - Pages: 5
...Hepatitis C (HCV) is a bloodborne virus that currently affects between 130 and 150 million people worldwide 1. Like other bloodborne infections, HCV is largely spread by needle sharing and organ/blood transplants where HCV screening is not commonly practiced. In addition, HCV transmission can also occur via unprotected sex as well as mother-to-child transmission (although it is much less common to be spread this way). While the majority of patients with acute infections show no symptoms, those who develop chronic HCV will commonly suffer fatigue, joint pain, and emotional depression and more serious, life-threatening symptoms could develop in a range of organ systems as infection persists 2. The only treatment option currently available for...
Words: 1285 - Pages: 6
...Hepatitis B Candace Tiley GCU RN-BSN Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V Colleen Darrow September 12, 2013 Hepatitis B TRANSMISSION: Hepatitis B is a communicable disease that affects the liver via the hepatitis virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is the most common liver infection in the world. The virus is transmitted via blood and infected bodily fluids. This can occur through activities that involve percutaneous punctures through the skin, or mucosal contact with infectious blood or body fluids. Examples of ways that an individual could contract Hepatitis B might include: Sex with an infected partner; Birth to an infected mother; Coming in contact with the blood or sores of someone infected with Hepatitis B; (exposure to infected blood via a blood transfusion) Needle sticks with a dirty or contaminated needle or sharp instrument; Sharing items with an infected person such as toothbrushes or razors; RISK FACTORS: -Transfusion of unscreened blood; -Sexual promiscuity; - Sharing of or re-using of syringes between injection drug users; -Tattooing; -Working or residing in a health-care facility; -Living in a correctional facility; -Renal dialysis -long-term household or intimate non-sexual contact with and HBs Ab-positive individual. HBV is not spread through food or water, sharing common objects such as kitchen utensils, via hugging or kissing, casual contact or by being exposed to someone with HBV who may cough or sneeze. This virus can...
Words: 5072 - Pages: 21
...Hepatitis B Candace Tiley GCU RN-BSN Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V Colleen Darrow September 12, 2013 Hepatitis B TRANSMISSION: Hepatitis B is a communicable disease that affects the liver via the hepatitis virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is the most common liver infection in the world. The virus is transmitted via blood and infected bodily fluids. This can occur through activities that involve percutaneous punctures through the skin, or mucosal contact with infectious blood or body fluids. Examples of ways that an individual could contract Hepatitis B might include: Sex with an infected partner; Birth to an infected mother; Coming in contact with the blood or sores of someone infected with Hepatitis B; (exposure to infected blood via a blood transfusion) Needle sticks with a dirty or contaminated needle or sharp instrument; Sharing items with an infected person such as toothbrushes or razors; RISK FACTORS: -Transfusion of unscreened blood; -Sexual promiscuity; - Sharing of or re-using of syringes between injection drug users; -Tattooing; -Working or residing in a health-care facility; -Living in a correctional facility; -Renal dialysis -long-term household or intimate non-sexual contact with and HBs Ab-positive individual. HBV is not spread through food or water, sharing common objects such as kitchen utensils, via hugging or kissing, casual contact or by being exposed to someone with HBV who may cough or sneeze. This virus can...
Words: 5072 - Pages: 21
...Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is a condition characterized by an accumulation of abnormal lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells), in the blood and bone marrow. Hepatitis C is another type of cancer that will be affecting primarily the liver. There is not a cure for either of these diseases but the chances of survival have improved greatly over the years. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Hepatitis C (HCV) are both forms of cancer so you cannot treat one without worsening the damage of the other. CLL is a lymphoid malignancy that occurs in a heterogeneous patient population. Lymphoid malignancy is a term used to describe a cancerous tumor that can spread and invades surrounding lymph nodes. CLL is caused by the overproduction of abnormal b lymphocytes. This is in contrast to the term begin, which references conditions are not necessarily invasive and do not spread throughout the body. Heterogeneous can be described as the diversity of nearly anything whether its population, classrooms, or collections. Patients may be risk stratified into low, intermediate, and high-risk categories based on prognostic factors, which may influence the approach to treatments. Differences in cell morphology, immunophenotype, cytogenetics, and molecular characteristics impact the clinical courses of disease and individual patient response. Cell morphology is essential in identifying the shape, structure, form, and size of cells. In cancer, for instance, cell morphology pertains to the shape...
Words: 1196 - Pages: 5
