HIV/AIDS & Other Related Infections

Other HIV-related Infections

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an irritation or inflammation of the liver. The term is commonly used to refer to several specific viral infections, including hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV). It is estimated that about 25% of HIV patients are also infected with HBV. Non-viral hepatitis is a common side effect of many drugs that are used to fight HIV.

Viral hepatitis is usually diagnosed with a blood test. This highly infectious disease can be transmitted readily between sex partners, among people living in the same household, and among drug users who share needles. It is important that HIV patients are tested for viral hepatitis so that measures can be taken to prevent the disease from developing.

Hepatitis A (HAV) usually is not a serious illness. Symptoms include fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine, vomiting, and a loss of appetite. It is transmitted by oral-fecal contact and through contaminated water or food.

HAV can be prevented with vaccination, by maintaining good personal hygiene, and by practicing safer sex. Immune globulins (IG) are sometimes used to prevent HAV, but they are only effective for about 3 to 6 months, depending on the dose. IG is also used as a post-exposure prophylaxis, that is, for patients who have been exposed to HAV and have not been vaccinated.

There is no treatment for HAV. Fortunately, the infection is usually self-limiting, meaning that it goes away on its own without any treatment. Plenty of rest and a low-fat, low-protein diet can help.

In most cases, people contract hepatitis A only once in their lifetime. Rarely, patients who are infected with HAV develop a severe form of hepatitis called "fulminant hepatitis," which if left untreated, can be fatal.

Anyone who may have been exposed to HAV should see a physician or other health care provider. Patients who have HIV should be tested for HAV and if they have not been exposed to the virus, they should receive the HAV vaccine.

Hepatitis B (HBV) is transmitted through sexual contact, through contact with infected blood, by sharing contaminated needles, and from mother to infant. Many patients with HIV are co-infected with HBV. Practicing safer sex and not sharing drug injection equipment provide protection against both HIV and HBV.

HBV causes an initial acute illness, very much like hepatitis A. Symptoms include fever, jaundice, and severe fatigue. The illness usually lasts for a week and can last as long as a month. About 10% of patients develop chronic infection. Not only can patients transmit the virus to others, but they also are at risk for developing serious chronic liver disease. People infected with HIV are at increased risk for developing chronic HBV.

There are two general types of chronic HBV. Persistent chronic HBV does not produce major symptoms. Chronic active HBV is a very aggressive infection that can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. Patients who have either type can transmit the virus to others.

HBV can be prevented by practicing safer sex, by avoiding contact with the blood of infected patients, by not sharing drug injection equipment, and by receiving a vaccination. All patients with HIV should be tested for HBV. If they have not been exposed to the virus, they should receive an HBV vaccine.