1 minute read
Dr. Kumi Swart
What to Know About Hepatitis Screenings
BY DR. KUMI SWART
Advertisement
If you’ve had a recent physical exam, your physician may have recommended a screening for hepatitis C. If you’re wondering why or what it is, here are a few facts to help you understand. What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The liver can become inflamed for many reasons, including medication, diet, alcohol, toxins and diseases. One of the common causes of hepatitis is viral illness. There is a whole alphabet of viruses that attack the liver and cause inflammation. Each of them behaves a little differently and each has a different name. We call them hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis A, B and D are preventable with immunizations, but no vaccine currently exists for hepatitis C. Many people live with chronic hepatitis C without even knowing they have it, but the virus can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer, and result in death. In fact, it is estimated that globally 400,000 people die from hepatitis C-related complications each year, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, it’s the most common cause of death from a reportable infectious disease. How does it spread?
It is mostly transmitted through exposure to infected blood (think needle sharing, piercings, tattoos and transfusions), though it can sometimes spread through unprotected sex and childbirth. The good news is there are antiviral treatments that can cure hepatitis C, and the cure rate for some of these antiviral regimens is up to 98%. Who should get screened?
There are three times more cases of acute hepatitis C infection now than there were 10 years ago, and more young people are affected than in the past. In response to this public health crisis, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its recommendations for screening. Screening is now recommended, at least once, for all adults from age 18 to 79. The USPSTF released this recommendation in March 2020.
Dr. Kumi specializes in family medicine at Prestige Medical Group. She has special interests in women’s health, aesthetic medicine and urgent care. PrestigeMedicalGroup.org.
