West Los Angeles Handbook 2023 - 47

and placing them in special school programs. The best
way to treat fetal alcohol syndrome is to keep it from
happening. You can do this by not drinking alcohol
during your pregnancy.
Remember:
* No amount of alcohol is safe in pregnancy.
* Quit drinking as soon as you think you are pregnant.
* If you can't quit drinking, get help quickly.
This information provides a general overview on
alcohol use during pregnancy and may not apply to
everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this
information applies to you and to get more information
on this subject.
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians. Permission is granted to reproduce this
material for nonprofit educational purposes. Written permission is required for other use.
Hepatitis B & C (HBV & HCV)
What is hepatitis? What are
hepatitis B & C?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a
virus, drugs, or other factors. So far, there are six known
kinds of viral hepatitis: A, B, C, D, E, and G. They differ
in how they are transmitted as well as how long and
how severely they can affect you. For example, hepatitis
A and E, milder forms, are spread through contaminated
foods or water, while hepatitis B, C, and D, more serious
forms, are spread through contact with human blood or
by sexual activity (primarily B). Hepatitis B and C have
the greatest potential to damage your liver in the long
term. There is a vaccine for the prevention of hepatitis B
but not for hepatitis C.
How do I know if I have hepatitis
B or C?
Many people don't notice anything wrong with them-
they look and feel healthy. In fact, you can have
hepatitis B or C for many years before you even know
you have the virus. But by then, your liver may already
be damaged. Sometimes, people feel like they have a
mild-to-moderate " flu " tired, feverish, weak, achy, sick
to their stomach, and not hungry. Also, some people
might have jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Your doctor may order blood tests to see if you have a
mild or severe form of hepatitis. The tests see how well
your liver is functioning and may test for the virus itself
or for antibodies (proteins your body makes to fight the
46
virus) that have built up in the blood. These tests should
be repeated periodically.
How do you " catch " hepatitis?
Both Hepatitis B and C are spread through contact with
human blood, and perhaps through contact with other
body fluids. Close to 40% of people with hepatitis B or C
never learn how they were infected. You are at high risk
for hepatitis B or C if you:
* had a blood transfusion before 1990
* have been a hemodialysis patient
* had a job that exposed you to human blood
* have been in contact with the blood of someone who
has hepatitis B or C
* have ever injected or snorted drugs using shared
paraphernalia
* had sex with someone with hepatitis B (*The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] has
identified sexual contact as a potential risk factor for
transmission of hepatitis C. The risk does appear to
increase in people who have more than one sexual
partner).
* have tattoos or body piercing
What is the difference between
acute & chronic hepatitis B & C?
Both can be either acute (short term, less than 6
months) or chronic (long term, more than 6 months)
infections. Hepatitis B usually is not chronic. With an
acute infection, your body tries to fight the virus, and if
it succeeds in ridding the virus from your system, most
of the injured part of the liver returns to normal. But
with chronic hepatitis C, your body fails to fight off the
virus in a 6-month period. That is, the virus stays in
your system. It can either be inactive for a while or keep
damaging your liver as time goes on.
Why is liver damage dangerous?
You can't live without a liver. Your liver works in
many important ways: it keeps poisons (including
alcohol and drugs) from harming your body; it makes
necessary body chemicals (fats, proteins, cholesterol);
and it performs hundreds of other roles to keep you
healthy. A damaged liver can't handle all these tasks
very well, putting your life in serious danger. Hepatitis
C can lead to permanent liver damage that may require

West Los Angeles Handbook 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of West Los Angeles Handbook 2023