Hepatits Questions?

eltrip · Oct 22, 2002

Children, at least in my area, are immunized against Hep B. They try to start the series in the hospital, at birth. Better compliance, as I've been told.

PennyLane, RN · Oct 22, 2002

...sorry, I'm no help with your questions, but I just had to laugh :chuckle over Hepa-tits.

:) Mel

colleen10 · Oct 22, 2002

"Hepatits" Yeah, I thought that was kind of funny too after I submitted the post and then saw what I wrote.

Is that like Hella-Cool?

sanakruz, ADN · Oct 22, 2002

The vaccine is given in 3 parts; it will protect you from hep B. This is the type of hep you are most at risk for in a clinical setting. Hep A is from contaminated food(Fecal/oral transmission).... Hep C is "chronic "and not as easy to contract- but you could get it from a needle stick. It's a facinating disease, really and here to stay.I strongly suggest a vaccination. Employers will try to discourage you from getting it as a cost saving measure.here in CA it is required that they offer (and pay) for it for all employees.This includes housekeeping staff.

ohrn · Oct 22, 2002

psychnurse, it sounds as though you are saying that there is a vaccine for Hepatitis C. To my knowledge there is not, do you know something I don't know?

2rntish · Oct 22, 2002

There is not a vaccine for C, just A & B. B is a no brainer...Take the vaccine. If they offer A...Take It. If your DH has prexisting condition...Have him take both. Your school age kids should have Hep B started. If not...get them started.

I don't think A, B,C,or D are that easy to catch. True, the virus is not as fragile as some others. I still remeber coming home from work as a new grad and stripping off on the front porch and bleaching everything. I think being exposed to the bleach fumes was more of a health hazard!

I have known 2 nurses that converted after a needle stick. One with Hep C...no vaccine. The other Hep B and they had refused the vaccine. Pretty sad.

2ndCareerRN · Oct 22, 2002

Here is a site that will cover a lot of the questions you may have on Hepatitis.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm

In Oklahoma hep A, and hep B immunizations are required for school. Hep B is now part of the childhood immunization series. It is started at birth.

bob

ohrn · Oct 22, 2002

Hi Col,

Post #5 had good information but I would like to enhance it a little.

Any healthcare facility worth being a part of should offer the Hep B vaccine (3 doses) to all employees at risk for occupational exposure free of charge.

At our facility we also give Hep A vaccine (2 doses) to food service workers, plumbers, GI staff, and some lab personnel. This is not a recommendation of the CDC or any regulatory agencies. We just feel "it's the right thing to do".

A little about the virus':

Hep A--transmitted through the fecal-oral route (yuk!!) There is a vaccine. Vaccine efficacy after 1st dose is very high. Second vaccine assures lifetime(?) immunity. It's only been around a few years, so that's the lifetime.

Hep B--transmitted through Blood & Body Fluids--a VERY HARDY virus that, as you said, can live for weeks outside the body and on inantimate objects. There is a vaccine. Vaccine efficacy CAN be very good. Some people create antibodies after the first dose but this is not sufficient for lifetime(?) immunity (about 20 years so far). ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS who receive the Hep B series should also be titered (have blood drawn) within 4-8 weeks after the last vaccine. This checks for immunity. If you do not acquire immunity with the first series of three another series of three is recommended by the CDC and a titer after that. If no immunity is present after the second you are considered a non-responder.

Hep C~transmitted through Blood and Body Fluids but is not transmitted very easily with sexual contact. Hep C is a very fragile virus (like HIV) and does not live very long outside the body. No vaccine as far as I know.

Hope this helps, you should definitely get the Hep B vaccine.

DQ

Agnus · Oct 23, 2002

Get your kids immunized . Teenagers and young adults are considered an at risk population. It is recomended for babies. You definately should get it. No vaccine for c just A and B right now. B is the biggest risk but A is starting to become a bigger risk than before.