At the Knox County Community Health Center, we treat the whole you. Our goal is to get you the help you need when you need it. One disease we treat is hepatitis. This sometimes goes unchecked because our patients confuse the symptoms with a typical “feeling yucky.” Another one of many reasons to keep up with regular annual visits with our primary care providers. 

With information comes knowledge. And as your Community Health Center, we want you to have the knowledge, so you can recognize symptoms early and get checked out. The sooner you come in and let us know about your symptoms, the sooner we can get treatment going or help you find support if you are suffering. 

 

So, what is Hepatitis?

Plainly speaking, hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Your liver is an important organ - it processes nutrients, fights infections, and filters blood. It is a powerhouse organ and one that needs to be taken care of! 

Causes of hepatitis include:

• Drug use (sharing contaminated needles or syringes)
• Some medication side effects
• Viruses
• Toxins in the body
• Certain medical conditions
• Heavy alcohol use can lead to Alcoholic Hepatitis - specifically damaging the liver since it can’t process the alcohol fast enough

 

Hepatitis A & B do have vaccines available (YAY for science!), and people should receive these vaccines as children. Depending on your lifestyle choices and medical risk factors, you may be more susceptible to hepatitis, so speak with our medical team if you have any questions, need to be vaccinated, or would like more information.

 

Early signs and symptoms

Some people may have been infected and don’t have any symptoms. Others develop symptoms long after being infected. 

If you do experience symptoms, these are the most common:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Dark urine
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• Joint pain
• Vomiting

 

There are three main types of of Hepatitis: A, B & C

Hepatitis A is spread through fecal matter from an infected person. It can be found in food, objects, or drinks, and may be present in trace amounts. It’s as simple as an infected person not washing their hands after using the bathroom, and it spreads from their hands. It can also be present on unwashed food or in unclean drinking water.

Hepatitis B is spread through bodily fluids from an infected person. This can occur when an infected mother passes it to her baby at birth, or someone uses a contaminated needle, bodily fluids are transferred from one person to another, sharing toothbrushes, and more. 

Hepatitis C is spread from infected blood entering someone not infected. This can happen from a blood transfusion (before 1992 in the U.S. - we have high testing standards these days for blood donors), an infected mother passing it to her baby at birth, contaminated needles, and more.

 

Understanding the next steps after diagnosis

Depending on the type of hepatitis, there may be treatments available. However, there are no cures available at this time for patients suffering with any type of hepatitis. Treatments involve preventing more liver damage, providing relief from symptoms, and possibly halting or reversing existing damage.

• Hepatitis A usually lasts a few weeks to a few months, but patients recover with no lasting damage to the liver. Medical staff will provide support and may be able to provide some medication to help with symptoms.
• Hepatitis B can be mild to a serious, life-long condition. Liver cancer, liver failure and cirrhosis are serious medical issues related to hepatitis, especially if it becomes chronic (lasting longer than 6 months). There are no medications available for acute symptoms since it doesn’t last too long. But the use of some antiviral drugs in patients with chronic issues has been helpful. All patients are watched for ongoing issues. 
• Hepatitis C ranges from mild symptoms to life-long chronic symptoms. Patients are treated with oral therapy pills if symptoms become chronic.

 

Diagnosis - What we look for in a blood test

A blood test is part of the visit, along with a physical exam and an ultrasound of your liver. The blood test is an important part of the exam, as it can determine if there are elevated liver enzymes, as well as to see if any or the hepatitis viruses are present.

 

Programs we provide to aid you if you have hepatitis, drug, or alcohol issues

If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis, or are already diagnosed and need support, we are here for you. We can provide medical care and support from our staff. 

 

If your hepatitis is due to issues with drugs or alcohol, we have programs in place for support as well.

 

SMART Recovery is a program to help you with whatever addictive behaviors you have. This is a support group helping people learn self-empowering tools for any type of addiction. See more information HERE.

Substance use counseling is available to those in need as well. Our counselors are trained to work with you and help you find ways to eliminate the need for drugs or alcohol.

 

We know healthcare, and we are here for all your medical and emotional needs. Call us at 740-399-8008 to set up your appointment.