HJAR May/Jun 2022

42 MAY / JUN 2022 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS SECRETARY’S CORNER DIALOGUE COLUMN SECRETARY’S CORNER ARKANSAS continues to see an elevated number of hepatitis A and C cases. There- fore, with May being Hepatitis Awareness Month, the Arkansas Department of Health encourages healthcare workers to be aware of the risk factors for both of these hepatitis- associated viruses, to look for symptoms in patients, and test for them as necessary. Hepatitis Aand C are contagious liver dis- eases. However, the two illnesses differ in how long they last and how they are pre- vented. In general, hepatitis C infection can result in a chronic condition in two-thirds or more of the cases, while hepatitisA infection is an acute illness with mild symptoms that may last a few weeks or occasionally is a se- vere illness lasting several months. Most people with hepatitis C infection have no symptoms. They do not become aware that they are infected until they are screened or become ill due to advanced liver disease, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. In contrast, people infected with the hepatitis A virus may experience acute illness with symptoms that can include nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), and dark urine. Many people do not experience any symptoms at all from hepatitisA. Healthcare workers should know who is at high risk for hepatitis and test as needed. Recommendations are for people at high risk to receive routine screening for hepatitis C. The Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention recommends that all adults aged 18 and older be screened for hepatitis C at least once and that all pregnant women should be screened during each pregnancy. In Arkan- sas, Act 598 of 2021 requires that all preg- nant women be offered hepatitis C screen- ing. More frequent screening, or screening in other age groups, may be recommended depending on the patient’s risk profile. To learn more, visit https://www.cdc.gov/ hepatitis/hcv/guidelinesc.htm. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood froman infected person or instruments contaminated with an infected person’s blood, such as through unlicensed tattooing with needles reused on clients. Hepatitis C is mainly contracted through sharing needles used to inject drugs and rarely from sexu- al contact or from mother to child at birth. Many people also contracted hepatitis C from transfusions or organ transplants before 1992, so awareness of hepatitis C is essential even among people who do not have any ongoing risk of transmission. Ablood test called a hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test is used to determine if someone has ever been infected with the HCV. Those who test positive are given a follow-up HCV RNA test to determine if they are infectious Hepatitis A & C IN ARKANSAS