1. Hepatitis C Education & Outreach Team at AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan

2. Five main types of hepatitis What does hepatitis mean? HEPA means liver IT IS means inflammation Hepatitis .. Inflammation (swelling) of the liver most commonly caused by a viral infection Hepatitis B, C & D Caused by exposure to infected body fluids Hepatitis A & E Caused by ingestion of contaminated food and water

3. Across Canada, 1 in 5 people living with Hepatitis C do not know they have the virus!

4. What is Hepatitis Infection? Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. The Virus The virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for at least 16 hours but no longer than 4 days The virus is an RNA virus and uses liver cells to create copies of itself, killing those cells in the process.

5. Why is Hep C a Health Concern? Many infected people do not know they have the virus because for most, there will be no symptoms and for others, the symptoms may not show up for decades You may not know you have this infection until damage has already been done to your liver There is no vaccine

6. What does my liver do?

7. Stages of Liver Damage Infection the virus enters the bloodstream and is carried to the liver to infect the liver cells Inflammation infected liver cells become damaged and some cells die causing the liver to swell Fibrosis scar tissue that forms on the liver in reaction to an infection or toxin Cirrhosis severe widespread scarring that destroys the liver

8. Liver Cancer or Liver Failure After a long period of time, untreated hepatitis c can result in people developing liver cancer or the liver can stop working (called liver failure)

9. Liver Damage

10. How is Hepatitis C Transmitted? Through blood to blood contact! sharing needles, pipes, straws, cookers, filters, tie s, or water for drug use piercing or tattooing equipment (including ink) used on someone else hygiene/grooming such as razors, nail clippers and toothbrushes unprotected sex reusing medical equipment that was not properly sterilized Pre-1992 blood transfusions

11. What are ways Hepatitis C is not spread? eating utensils breastfeeding hugging kissing holding hands coughing sneezing food water

12. Hepatitis C Infection The virus goes away on its own 1 out of 4 people (25%) the virus goes way on its own during the first 6 months after infection 3 out of 4 (75%) go on to chronic Hep C and the virus will not go away on its own. Chronic Hep C Possible Inflammation Fibrosis Possible cirrhosis and liver cancer

13. 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 persons body. Hepatitis C virus infection can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver problems, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer.

14. 70-80% of people experience NO SYMPTOMS 20-30 % may experience: fatigue flu-like symptoms nausea yellowing of the eyes and skin low appetite rash abdominal pain bruise or bleed easily dark-coloured urine light or clay-coloured stools Signs & Symptoms Acute Phase

15. Can take decades for these signs to appear: fatigue nausea yellowing of the eyes blood in stool or vomit dry or itchy skin sleep disturbances depression weight loss brain fog Signs & Symptoms Chronic Phase

16. Hepatitis C Viral Load A persons hepatitis C viral load refers to the amount of the virus in a given sample of blood. It is generally accepted that ones viral load does not determine how much liver damage a person will havea higher viral load does not guarantee more liver damage and a lower viral load does not guarantee less liver damage.

17. No vaccine and no immunity: People can be infected more than once People who get hepatitis C and clear the virus can be re-infected. Hepatitis C antibodies do not protect against the virus. People can also be infected with multiple strains, making the infection more difficult to manage.

18. Virus Strains There are several genotypes (strains) of HCV. Its important to test for the strain of HCV you have for two reasons. 1. Some HCV strains are more easily treated than others, meaning effective treatment may take less time. 2. if you have had multiple exposures to HCV, you may be infected with more than one strain. Treatment may change according to which strain is being dealt with

19. Genotypes: 6 strains of Hepatitis C Virus There are at least six major genotypes (a genetic variation of the virus) In North America, HCV infections usually involve genotype 1 virus, with genotypes 2 and 3 responsible for a smaller percentage of cases The genotype does not have a significant influence on disease progression

20. There is no guarantee that a treatment, test, or vaccine against one strain will be effective against all of them. Moreover, individuals cured of one strain will be prone to reinfection by any of the other strains.

21. How should blood spills be cleaned from surfaces to make sure that Hepatitis C virus is gone? Any blood spills - including dried blood, which can still be infectious - should be cleaned using a dilution of one part household bleach to 10 parts water. Gloves should be worn when cleaning up blood spills.