BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS - LESSON THREE

What Are Some of the Most Common Bloodborne Diseases?

This lesson gives a brief overview of these diseases and shows you how to gain more information.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver.


Hepatitis takes many forms and is caused by exposure to any one of the Hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E viruses.

 

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is one of the oldest diseases. Most commonly, people become infected with Hepatitis A through exposure to fecal matter. You can also get Hepatitis A through contaminated food or water. You can avoid Hepatitis A by washing hands frequently, especially after using the toilet and before handling food.

Average Rate
Texas 16.38 cases per 100,000
Average Rate
Bell County 5.95

Centers for Disease Control

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/hivstd

 

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious disease that attacks the liver. Hepatitis B is also a preventable disease. The HVB vaccine is available to protect you from Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Hepatitis B is spread by exposure to blood and body fluids. You can become infected with Hepatitis B by getting blood or other infected body fluids in the mouth, eyes, nose, or through broken skin.

You will learn more about Hepatitis B and the HVB vaccine to protect you from this disease in Lesson 9, What about Hepatitis B?

 

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have this disease. The infection is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C is serious for some persons, but not for others. Most persons who get hepatitis C carry the virus for the rest of their lives. Most of these persons have some liver damage but many do not feel sick from the disease. Some persons with liver damage due to hepatitis C may develop cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver and liver failure which may take many years to develop. Others have no long-term effects.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding. Most people with HIV develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.

There is no cure and no vaccination for HIV or AIDS.

These body fluids have been proven to spread HIV:

  • blood
  • semen
  • vaginal fluid
  • breast milk
  • other body fluids containing blood

 

 

According to About.com

(see http://aids.about.com/health/aids/blmetrostats.htm), for the year 2004, Texas ranked 4th in the nation for reported AIDS cases with 62,983. Only New York, California and Florida report more cases. (See number of cases in 2001 below.)

Houston ranks 8th in urban areas in the year 2000 with 19,898 reported cases of AIDS.

Since 1986, you can see an alarming rise in reported AIDS cases across Texas. (All maps available from the Bureau of HIV and STD Prevention Texas Department of Health at http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/hivstd/stats/dotmaps/aids1986.htm#chart.)

1986 

Most cases were reported in urban areas such as Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

   

1992

Concentrations heaviest in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio with
growing AIDS populations in Lubbock, Amarillo, El Paso and the Valley area.

   

2001

54, 117 reported AIDS cases throughout the state with heaviest concentrations throughout East Texas and the Gulf Coast area. This represents an increase of 1,450 cases from 2000, or roughly 121 people per month, or 4 people per day in the state of Texas are reported to have developed the AIDS virus.

Key Terms
Movies
Fecal Matter - Waste material excreted by the bowels (bowel movement)
 
Vaccine - To build up a body's resistance to a pathogen by introducing a weakened version of the pathogen into the body's system

Check Up

  • Hepatitis refers to a number of diseases that attack the liver
  • Hepatitis A, B and C are of particular concern
  • The rate of Hepatitis A per 100,000 population is approximately 1/3 of the state average
  • Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food and water
  • Hepatitis B and C are spread through exposure to infected blood or body fluids
  • Hepatitis B is a preventable disease since you can receive the HVB vaccine and protect yourself from infection
  • Since 1996, there has been an alarming rise in the number of reported AIDS cases, particularly in urban and East Texas
  • Bloodborne pathogens enter your body through open sores, breaks in the skin or through mucous membranes, such as the nose, eyes and mouth

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