K.N.O.W. Home Health - HEPATITIS C

HEPATITIS C

What Is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a virus that causes an infection in your liver. It can make your liver hurt and stop working well. Some people feel sick, but others may not feel anything for years.

What Causes Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C spreads when blood from someone who has the virus gets into your body. This can happen by:

Sharing needles or other equipment for drugs
Getting a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992 (when testing started)
Being born to a mother who has Hepatitis C
Sometimes through unprotected sex or sharing personal items like razors or toothbrushes, but this is less common

Symptoms of Hepatitis C

Many people do not have symptoms at first. If you do, you might have:

Feeling very tired
Belly pain
Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
Dark urine
Loss of appetite
Nausea or vomiting
Muscle or joint pain

Treatment for Hepatitis C

There are medicines that can cure Hepatitis C in most people today.
Treatment can last from 8 to 12 weeks or longer.
It is important to take all your medicine as your doctor tells you.
Regular blood tests help the doctor see how your liver is doing.

Special Diet and Precautions

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Avoid alcohol because it can damage your liver more.
Avoid medicines with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or only take them if your doctor says it's safe, because these can hurt your liver.
Avoid sharing needles, razors, toothbrushes, or anything that might have blood on it.
Use condoms during sex to help prevent spreading the virus.

Other Important Information

Hepatitis C can be passed to others, so take precautions.
You may need regular doctor visits even after treatment to check your liver health.
If you have liver damage or scarring (called cirrhosis), avoid alcohol and follow your doctor’s instructions closely.
Tell your healthcare providers that you have or had Hepatitis C before any medical or dental procedures.

When to Call Your Home Health Nurse or Doctor

Call if you:

Feel very tired or weak
Have belly pain that gets worse
Notice yellowing of your skin or eyes
Have vomiting that won’t stop
Have a fever or chills
Feel confused or very sleepy

When to Call 911 or Go to the Emergency Room

Call 911 or go to the ER if you:

Pass out or lose consciousness
Have severe belly pain
Have trouble breathing
Vomit blood or have black, tarry stools
Feel very confused or cannot stay awake

Patient Homework / Assessment

Instructions: Read each statement below. Write True or False at the beginning. If the statement is False, please correct it.

True or False: Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver.
True or False: You can get Hepatitis C by sharing needles.
True or False: Everyone with Hepatitis C feels sick right away.
True or False: Medicines can cure most people with Hepatitis C.
True or False: You should avoid alcohol if you have Hepatitis C.
True or False: It is safe to share razors if you wash them first.
True or False: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can harm your liver if you have Hepatitis C.
True or False: Hepatitis C can be passed during unprotected sex.
True or False: Eating fruits and vegetables helps keep your liver healthy.
True or False: You do not need to tell your dentist if you have Hepatitis C.
True or False: Dark urine can be a sign of liver problems.
True or False: Hepatitis C can cause yellowing of the skin or eyes.
True or False: Treatment for Hepatitis C usually lasts 1 to 3 months.
True or False: You can get Hepatitis C from touching someone who has it.
True or False: You should take all your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you.
True or False: You don’t need regular doctor check-ups after Hepatitis C treatment.
True or False: Hepatitis C can cause long-term liver damage if not treated.
True or False: You should use condoms to reduce the risk of spreading Hepatitis C.
True or False: Hepatitis C can be passed from mother to baby during birth.
True or False: You should never share toothbrushes if you have Hepatitis C.

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Symptom Identification:

Have you noticed yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, fatigue, or stomach discomfort that may mean your liver is being affected?

Activity Impact / Safety:
2. Are you feeling too weak or tired to safely do your daily activities, or do you get short of breath more easily than before?

Treatment Adherence:
3. Have you been able to take your Hepatitis C medicines as prescribed and keep your follow-up doctor appointments?

Preventive Measures:
4. What steps are you taking to prevent the spread of Hepatitis C to others, such as not sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes, and practicing safe sex?

Additional Information (labs):
5. Do you know when your next blood tests or liver function checks are scheduled and why they are important to track your progress?

Answer Key with Explanations

True – Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver and can cause damage.
True – Sharing needles is a common way Hepatitis C spreads.
False – Many people do not feel sick at first but can still have the virus.
True – New medicines can cure most people with Hepatitis C.
True – Alcohol harms the liver and should be avoided with Hepatitis C.
False – You should never share razors, even if washed, because blood can spread the virus.
True – Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can cause more liver damage and should be used carefully.
True – Hepatitis C can spread through unprotected sex, although it’s less common than blood contact.
True – Fruits and vegetables support liver health and overall wellness.
False – You should tell your dentist and other healthcare providers if you have Hepatitis C.
True – Dark urine is a possible sign of liver problems.
True – Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice) is a symptom of liver disease.
True – Treatment usually lasts from 8 to 12 weeks or longer depending on the medicine.
False – Hepatitis C does not spread by casual contact like touching.
True – Taking all your medicine as prescribed is important for a cure.
False – Regular doctor visits are important even after treatment to check your liver health.
True – Without treatment, Hepatitis C can cause long-term damage like cirrhosis or cancer.
True – Using condoms lowers the risk of spreading Hepatitis C during sex.
True – Hepatitis C can pass from mother to baby during birth.
True – Sharing toothbrushes can spread blood and the virus, so never share them.