Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy > Conditions and therapies > Viral hepatitis
Viral hepatitis
PrintHepatitis is a viral infection that results in inflammation of the liver. Patients afflicted with viral hepatitis may exhibit symptoms of fever, weakness, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and decreased appetite. Hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common forms of the virus in the United States. Other types of viral hepatitis that are less common include hepatitis D and E. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment with immunoglobulin, interferon therapy, or a vaccination for hepatitis are important for those who have been exposed to the virus.
Select any question to learn more about viral hepatitis below:
Viral hepatitis
What is viral hepatitis?
What should I do if I think I’ve been infected with hepatitis?
Can a person be reinfected with viral hepatitis?
How can Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy help?
Where can I find more information on viral hepatitis?
Hepatitis B
What is hepatitis B?
Is there a cure for hepatitis B?
How many people are infected with hepatitis B?
Who is at risk for hepatitis B?
How is hepatitis B spread?
How can the spread of hepatitis B be prevented?
What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?
What are the complications of hepatitis B?
How is hepatitis B diagnosed?
How is hepatitis B treated?
What medications are used to treat hepatitis B?
What are other ways to manage and recover from hepatitis B?
Are there any special concerns for pregnant women with hepatitis B?
Hepatitis C
What is hepatitis C?
Is there a cure for hepatitis C?
How many people are infected with hepatitis C?
Who is at risk for hepatitis C?
How is hepatitis C spread?
How can the spread of hepatitis C be prevented?
What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?
What are the complications of hepatitis C?
How is hepatitis C diagnosed?
How is hepatitis C treated?
What medications are used to treat hepatitis C?
What are other ways to manage and recover from hepatitis C?
Are there any special concerns for pregnant women with hepatitis C?
What is viral hepatitis?
Viral hepatitis is caused by a virus that causes the liver to become inflamed, or swollen. There are different types of hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis A, B and C are the most common forms in the United States. Other types, such as hepatitis D and E, are less common. People with hepatitis may experience fever, weakness, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) and a decreased appetite. Quick diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important for anyone who has been exposed to the virus.
What should I do if I think I’ve been infected with hepatitis?
Talk with your doctor, who will perform a physical exam and a blood test to confirm a diagnosis. If you test positive for any form of viral hepatitis, tell others who may have been exposed to the virus about your diagnosis. They should also talk with their doctors.
Can a person be reinfected with viral hepatitis?
Yes. Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A and B. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C but you can take steps to reduce your risk of being exposed to the virus.
How can Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy help?
It is important to find a pharmacy that understands the medications and treatments for viral hepatitis. Our specially trained pharmacists join your treatment team, working together with your doctor and other healthcare providers, to support their services and help you get the most from your therapy.
To take advantage of Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy’s patient support services, call us toll free at 888-782-8443, or complete our online form.
Where can I find more information on viral hepatitis?
The more informed you are, the better you can manage your health. You can find additional information about viral hepatitis from these and other sources.
American Liver Foundation
www.liverfoundation.org
Hepatitis Foundation International
www.hepfi.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a serious form of hepatitis. It can cause liver cell damage that can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), cancer and death.
Is there a cure for hepatitis B?
People who contract hepatitis B can fully recover with treatment. However, some people who develop chronic hepatitis B infection must receive long-term treatment. The best protection against hepatitis B is being vaccinated against it.
How many people are infected with hepatitis B?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- An estimated 1.25 million people in the United States are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus, about 20 percent to 30 percent of whom were infected as children.
- Each year, approximately 50,000 new hepatitis B infections occur in the United States, and the virus results in 3,000 to 5,000 deaths annually.
- The number of new infections has decreased from 260,000 in the 1980s to about 46,000 in 2006.
- Most people infected each year are adults between the ages of 20 and 49.
Who is at risk for hepatitis B?
Those at risk for contracting hepatitis B include the following:
- Those with liver disease
- Those with multiple sex partners or a diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease
- Those who have sexual contact with an infected person
- Men who have sex with men
- Injection drug users
- Hemodialysis patients
- Healthcare professionals exposed to blood or bodily fluids at work
- Household members and other close contacts of someone with hepatitis B
- Infants born to mothers infected with hepatitis B
How is hepatitis B spread?
The hepatitis B virus is spread much more easily than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Hepatitis B is spread through contact with infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions and contaminated needles, including tattoo and body piercing tools. An infected woman can transmit hepatitis B virus to her baby at birth or through her breast milk.
Hepatitis B can be contracted in any of the following ways:
- Having sex with an infected person without using a condom
- Sharing contaminated injection needles and other tools for illegal drug use
- Having a body piercing, acupuncture or tattoo done with tools that were not cleaned after use on someone with hepatitis B
- Getting accidentally stuck with a contaminated needle (healthcare workers can become infected this way)
- Living with someone who has hepatitis B
- Sharing a toothbrush or razor with an infected person
Hepatitis B is not spread by hugging, coughing or casual contact.
How can the spread of hepatitis B be prevented?
The transmission of hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccination. A series of three injections is given on a specific schedule to provide protection from the virus. Infants who receive all three injections have a 95 percent chance of not becoming infected with hepatitis B virus during their lifetime. The hepatitis B vaccine can be given to people with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV/AIDS. However, the vaccine is not recommended for use after exposure to the virus.
The following precautions will also help prevent the spread of the virus:
- Practice safer sex using latex condoms.
- Do not share anything that could have an infected person’s blood on it (e.g., toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers or body-piercing instruments).
- Do not share drug needles, cocaine straws or other tools for illegal drug use.
- Cover all sores and rashes, and do not touch them or allow anyone else to touch them.
- Clean up any blood spills with detergent and a 10 percent solution of household bleach.
- Do not pre-chew food for babies if you have hepatitis B.
- Have your children—newborn to age of 19—vaccinated against hepatitis B.
- Get vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus if:
- You live with a chronically infected person
- You have a job where you are exposed to blood
- You have multiple sex partners
What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?
Approximately 30 percent to 40 percent of people with acute hepatitis B show no symptoms. If they do occur, symptoms include loss of appetite, jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. The most common symptoms appear one to six months after becoming infected with the virus. Symptoms are less common in children than adults.
What are the complications of hepatitis B?
In some people, a chronic hepatitis B infection silently attacks the liver over several years. Eventually, this can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). Cirrhosis can cause serious problems, ranging from severe fatigue and difficulty thinking clearly to ascites, a fluid build-up in the stomach area that causes quick and noticeable weight gain. In some cases, severe damage to the liver can make a liver transplant necessary.
Those with chronic hepatitis B infection should avoid alcohol or combining medications (prescribed, over-the-counter or herbal) with alcohol to prevent additional damage to the liver. Regular visits to a doctor can help monitor the condition of the liver as well as overall health.
How is hepatitis B diagnosed?
The only way to know if you have a hepatitis B infection or if you are a carrier of the virus is through a blood test. The three standard blood tests for hepatitis B include:
- HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen). A positive result means you are infected with the hepatitis B virus, and can pass it on to others. People who test positive for HBsAg for more than six months have chronic hepatitis B. This means the virus still remains in the person’s liver and bloodstream.
- Anti-HBc (total hepatitis B core antibody). A positive test result means you currently are infected with hepatitis B, or have been infected at some point in the past. People who test positive for anti-HBc are diagnosed with acute hepatitis B.
- Anti-HBs (hepatitis B surface antibody). A positive test result means you are immune to hepatitis B, either as a result of previously having the disease, or from receiving the vaccine.
About 90 percent to 95 percent of adults who are infected with hepatitis B will recover completely. Once recovered, a person develops immunity to the virus and cannot give it to others. However, among those who are infected, approximately 90 percent of infants, 50 percent of young children, and 5 percent to 10 percent of adults will develop a chronic hepatitis B infection.
How is hepatitis B treated?
There is no special treatment for acute hepatitis B except getting bed rest and drinking extra fluids. However, after a known exposure to the hepatitis B virus, immediate treatment with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) can help prevent infection. HBIG is recommended for infants born to mothers with hepatitis B and people who have been exposed to contaminated blood or bodily fluids.
There are also several prescription medications available to treat chronic hepatitis B in adults.
What medications are used to treat hepatitis B?
There are several prescription medications available to treat chronic hepatitis B infection in adults. Everyone responds differently to medications, and some people will need to try a few different medications before finding the one that works best. If you are taking medications for hepatitis B, use them as directed. Staying on track with your medication therapy will help you get the most from the treatment and help you move toward recovery.
What are other ways to manage and recover from hepatitis B?
It’s important to try to maintain your regular activities as much as possible. Exercise, follow a well-balanced diet and keep a positive attitude. Avoid overwhelming tasks and learn how to pace yourself. Rest when you feel tired and plan physically exhausting tasks for the morning, or a time when you have the most energy.
Are there any special concerns for pregnant women with hepatitis B?
From the last few months of pregnancy to the time of delivery, a hepatitis B infection in the mother can be a significant risk to the baby. As many as two-thirds of these infants can become infected with the hepatitis B virus. Most go on to develop a chronic infection or become carriers. Pregnant women who are either carrying hepatitis B or are actively infected with hepatitis B should inform their doctor so the newborn can be given special medications and a vaccination at birth. This may help prevent the infant from becoming a lifelong carrier of the virus.
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a virus that causes the swelling of the liver. It is the most common liver disease. The disease progresses very slowly and may take 20 to 30 years before causing serious liver damage. Chronic hepatitis C refers to infections that do not clear up within six months after an acute infection.
Is there a cure for hepatitis C?
Doctors prefer not to use the word "cure," but if treatment is successful, it is felt that health risks from hepatitis C can be reduced dramatically. With successful treatment, the virus goes from always being present to never being present in the blood. Treatment also can make people feel better and may prevent future liver problems.
How many people are infected with hepatitis C?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 4.1 million people in the United States have been infected with hepatitis C, 3.2 million of whom have a chronic infection. Most people with chronic hepatitis C have yet to be diagnosed.
The CDC estimates that roughly 19,000 people are newly infected with hepatitis C each year. Although medications are available to treat hepatitis C, only 15 percent to 25 percent of people clear the infection from their bodies completely. The remaining individuals become chronically infected. Of those with a chronic infection, 70 percent develop chronic liver disease, which may progress to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), liver cancer or liver failure. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, hepatitis C causes an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 deaths in the United States each year. Less than 3 percent of those infected with hepatitis C die from the disease.
Who is at risk for hepatitis C?
Those at risk for contracting hepatitis C include:
- Anyone who has had a blood transfusion prior to 1992 or has received clotting factors produced before 1987
- Injection drug users
- Hemodialysis patients
- Those with multiple sex partners or those or a diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease
- Those who have sexual contact with an infected person
- Healthcare professionals exposed to blood or bodily fluids at work
- Infants born to mothers infected with hepatitis C
- Those who receive tattoos or body piercing with unsterile instruments
How is hepatitis C spread?
Hepatitis C is spread through direct contact with contaminated blood and can be contracted in any of the following ways:
- Sharing contaminated injection needles and other tools for illegal drug use
- Having a body piercing, acupuncture or tattoo done with tools that were not cleaned after use on someone with hepatitis C
- Getting accidentally stuck with a contaminated needle (healthcare workers can become infected this way)
- Having sex with an infected person without using a condom
- Sharing a toothbrush or razor with an infected person
Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C can be passed from an infected mother to her newborn infant. However, unlike hepatitis B, hepatitis C cannot be passed from an infected mother to her infant through breastfeeding.
Hepatitis C is not spread through kissing, hugging or casual contact.
How can the spread of hepatitis C be prevented?
Unlike hepatitis A and B, there are no vaccines to prevent hepatitis C. Preventive measures include screening blood, organ and tissue donors, as well as changing risky behaviors and taking precautions when exposed to blood and bodily fluids.
The following precautions will also help prevent the spread of the virus:
- Practice safer sex using latex condoms.
- Do not share anything that could have an infected person’s blood on it (e.g., toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers or body-piercing instruments).
- Do not share drug needles, cocaine straws or other tools for illegal drug use.
- Cover all sores and rashes and do not touch them or allow anyone else to touch them.
- Clean up any blood spills with detergent and a 10 percent solution of household bleach.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?
Because hepatitis C can infect a person many years before it’s discovered, it is often called a silent disease. Most people infected with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and are able to lead a normal life. If symptoms are present, they may be very mild, and can include the following:
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Abdominal pain
Other symptoms might include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), loss of appetite, dark urine and intermittent (off and on) nausea and vomiting.
What are the complications of hepatitis C?
In some people, a chronic hepatitis C infection silently attacks the liver over several years. Eventually, this can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), liver failure or liver cancer.
Those with chronic hepatitis C infection should avoid alcohol, as it may cause additional damage to the liver and interfere with prescribed hepatitis C medications. Combining medications (prescribed, over-the-counter or herbal) with alcohol should also be avoided.
Cirrhosis can cause serious problems, ranging from severe fatigue and difficulty thinking clearly to ascites, a fluid build-up in the stomach area that cause quick and noticeable weight gain. In some cases, severe damage to the liver can make a liver transplant necessary.
How is hepatitis C diagnosed?
Hepatitis C infection can be diagnosed with a blood test, but the virus can’t be detected in the blood until two to eight weeks after a person becomes infected. Blood tests can show whether you have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus at some time in your life, or if the virus is active in your body at the time of the test. Blood tests can also show whether you have a chronic, or long-term, hepatitis C infection, which may mean you could develop health problems as a result of the virus.
Not all hepatitis C viruses are the same. The different types are called genotypes, which can be determined by a blood test. About three out of four people in the United States who have hepatitis C are infected with genotype 1. Most of the others have genotype 2 or 3. Each genotype requires a different length of treatment, as some respond better to treatment than others.
How is hepatitis C treated?
Hepatitis C medications work by removing, or clearing, the hepatitis C virus from your body, reducing it to levels that can no longer be detected in your blood.
What medications are used to treat hepatitis C?
Interferon is an immune-boosting drug that works by protecting healthy liver cells and preventing the hepatitis C virus from multiplying. Pegylated interferon is a form of interferon that stays active in the body for a longer period of time than standard interferon. Ribavirin is an antiviral medication that prevents the hepatitis C virus from multiplying.
Ribavirin alone does not treat hepatitis C. It must be combined with interferon to be effective. Taking these two medications together is called combination therapy, which is the recommended treatment for hepatitis C. Some people will take only interferon, which is called monotherapy.
Hepatitis C treatment usually lasts about six to 12 months, depending on the type of hepatitis C virus and the person’s response to treatment. It is recommended that people with genotype 2 or genotype 3 receive treatment for six months, while people with genotype 1 receive treatment for 12 months.
What are other ways to manage and recover from hepatitis C?
It’s important to try to maintain your regular activities as much as possible. Exercise, follow a well-balanced diet and keep a positive attitude. Avoid overwhelming tasks and learn how to pace yourself. Rest when you feel tired, and plan physically exhausting tasks for the morning or a time when you have the most energy.
If your doctor has suggested you receive treatment now, it means that you have a good chance of responding to medication. It also means your doctor trusts you to take your medication as directed. Taking your medications as prescribed is extremely important to your recovery. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in managing your medications and any side effects.
Are there any special concerns for pregnant women with hepatitis C?
There is a 4 percent risk an infected mother will transmit hepatitis C to her baby during birth. There is no treatment to prevent this. However, most babies infected with hepatitis C at birth have no symptoms and do not have liver problems during childhood. It is unknown if they are affected by the virus as they grow older.
Ribavirin can cause severe birth defects. Women who are pregnant or could become pregnant and their male partners should not take ribavirin. Women and men who are taking ribavirin must use two forms of reliable birth control during treatment while taking the medication and for six months after they finish taking ribavirin. Women taking ribavirin must not breastfeed.
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