Highland District Hospital partners with Highland County Health Department to educate public about increase in Hepatitis C

“Highland County has seen an increase in the incidence of Hepatitis C infections over the last few years” states Tracy Binkley, RN, BSN Infection Control Practitioner at Highland District Hospital.

“These findings, which are similar to those from other counties, are of concern, because Hepatitis C infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer in the United States. I believe this indicates a need for increased attention, education and awareness to aid in the prevention of Hepatitis C.”

Therefore, Highland District Hospital staff that includes Mrs. Binkley and Cathy Faulconer, RN, BSN, CIC Director of Performance Improvement & Corporate Compliance is partnering with the Highland County Health Department staff that includes Traci Corzatt, RN, BSN and Karen Oglesby, RN to spread the word about the dangers of Hepatitis C infection.

Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus. Most people with acute or chronic Hepatitis C have no symptoms and do not know they are infected.

If symptoms occur they may include one or more of the following: yellowing of the eyes and skin, swollen stomach or ankles, easy bruising, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, light-colored stools, or dark, yellow urine.

The severity of Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. Approximately, 25% of people with acute Hepatitis C fully recover whereas, 75% of people develop long-term or chronic Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.

Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. People can also get Hepatitis C from being born to a mother with Hepatitis C, being tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools, using contaminated ink wells, or getting an accidental needle stick with a needle that was used on an infected person.

Very rarely is Hepatitis C transmitted by sexual intercourse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before 1992, when widespread screening of the blood supply began in the United States, Hepatitis C was also commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Risk Factors for Hepatitis C include:

• Blood transfusions (before 1992) & blood products (before 1987)
• Healthcare/public safety workers & members of the military exposed to blood
• Child born to infected mother
• Sharing of needles…even once
• Snorting drugs (due to blood on shared straw or bill)
• Tattoos or body piercings (due to contaminated equipment)
• Risky sexual behavior
• History of sexually transmitted disease
• Shared razor or toothbrush

“Many people are unaware that there is an increased incidence of Hepatitis C among our adolescents and young adults here in Highland county, especially those engaged in high-risk behaviors such as IV drug use,” states Tracy Binkley, RN, BSN.

Since 2007, Highland County has seen a 200% increase in the number of Hepatitis C cases.

This is why it is so important to educate the public about Hepatitis and what we can do as a community to prevent the spread of Hepatitis C. There is currently no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C. The best way to prevent Hepatitis C is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially injection drug use.

Screening for Hepatitis C is not routinely done, however people can request to be tested. Testing should be highly encouraged for those individuals that may have risk factors for Hepatitis C, whether they are current or past.

Testing is done through a simple blood test at your physicians’ office and the health department offers free testing as well. “Since Hepatitis C infection is becoming increasingly treatable, being tested is an important step to ensure proper care, avoid complications and hopefully reduce the probability for transmission of the virus” states Tracy Binkley, RN, BSN.

The Highland County Health Department will have an information booth at the annual Health Fair being held at Highland District Hospital on Saturday, April 14 from 8 a.m.-noon.

Anyone needing more information on Hepatitis C can call Tracy Binkley, RN, BSN Infection Control Practitioner at Highland District Hospital at 937-840-6612 or the Highland County Health Department at 937-393-1941 or visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis.