American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [516]
Hepatitis C is diagnosed with a simple blood test that detects antibodies that the body produces to fight the virus. The antibodies can be detected as early as 5 weeks or up to 16 weeks after exposure to the virus. If the test result is positive, the test is repeated to confirm the diagnosis.
Diagnosis
If your doctor thinks you may have viral hepatitis, he or she will ask you about your risk factors, perform a physical examination, and order a blood test to look for one of the viruses. He or she will want to determine which hepatitis virus you are infected with and whether you have any liver damage or liver function problems, and evaluate the severity of the illness. Blood tests may be repeated at regular intervals to monitor the health of your liver and to watch for any signs of liver damage.
Treatment
If you have hepatitis and your symptoms are mild, your doctor will probably recommend that you stay home and rest for a week or two, avoid spreading the infection to others, eat a nutritious diet, and avoid alcohol (which can promote liver damage). If your symptoms are more severe or if laboratory tests indicate that you have liver damage, you may be admitted to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. You may have a liver biopsy (in which a sample of tissue is withdrawn from your liver through a needle for study under a microscope). If you have hepatitis C, you will probably be given antiviral medications such as interferon and ribavirin; for hepatitis B, you will be given lamivudine.
Hepatitis Vaccinations
Hepatitis B vaccinations are required for all American children and recommended for adults who are at risk of exposure to the virus, such as people who have several sex partners, health care workers, college students who live in dormitories, or people who live with an infected person. Ask your doctor about having a hepatitis B vaccination.
If you are planning a trip to a developing country, where hepatitis A is often widespread, ask your doctor about having a vaccination for hepatitis A. An injection of immune globulin (infection-fighting proteins) can provide immunity to the virus for 2 to 3 months. The two-shot vaccination against hepatitis A provides even more protection after the second shot, although exactly how long the protection lasts is unknown.
Preventing Hepatitis B and C
You can avoid becoming infected with hepatitis B or C or transmitting the virus to other people if you are already infected by taking the following steps:
• If you have hepatitis B, have everyone in your household get tested for the virus. If the test shows that someone is not immune to the virus (and does not already have it), he or she should be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
• Practice safer sex (see page 477) because hepatitis B is a common sexually transmitted disease.
• Tell your sex partners that you have hepatitis B. They should have a blood test to see if they are immune to the virus and, if not, they should be vaccinated against it. Until a blood test shows that they are immune to the virus, always use a condom during sex.
• To prevent spreading the virus, avoid touching your sores and keep them covered with a bandage.
• Don’t share any personal items that could have infected blood on them, including toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, pierced earrings, or body-piercing instruments.
• Clean up all blood spills with a 10 percent solution of bleach (10 parts water to one part bleach). Dispose of tampons and sanitary napkins in a plastic bag.
• If you are infected, don’t chew food before giving it to your baby.
• If you