HEPATITIS C

COUNSELING FLIPCHART

MSF-OCB Karachi project July 2014

CARD 1 Key messages

The word ‘hepatitis’ means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is an infection, caused by a virus called Hepatitis C virus. Although hepatitis C also affects other parts of the body, your liver is the organ most affected. Your liver is an essential organ with a lot of important functions: it removes toxic substances like alcohol, toxins, medications etc. from your blood, it stores sugar for energy to keep your body functioning and it helps to digest fat.

CARD 1 WHAT IS HEPATITIS C / FUNCTIONS OF THE LIVER

CARD 2 Key messages

- 1) When a person becomes infected with hepatitis C, he or she will most probably not notice any

symptoms. Sometimes the body can get rid of the virus on its own and become healthy again. About 1

person out of 5 will get rid of the virus.

- - 2) Most people will develop a chronic infection. You may not notice any symptoms for several years, as

hepatitis C develops slowly. Most people with chronic hepatitis will have only very mild to moderate damage to the liver over time.

- - 3) But hepatitis C can in some cases lead to more serious problems over a period of 25 to 30 years. - The liver will not be able to perform its functions anymore: it becomes scarred (which we call cirrhosis),

and a patient can develop liver failure and liver cancer. -

CARD 2 CONSEQUENCE OF HEPATITIS C

CARD 3 Key messages

1) HCV can be transmitted through contact with infected blood. You can only contract HCV if you come

into direct contact with an infected person’s blood. HCV can live outside of the body for days to weeks

and is infectious even after blood has dried.

2) Syringes and other medical equipment, toothbrushes, razor blades, manicuring tools or other sharp

objects and tattooing or body piercing materials can contain the hepatitis C virus. Very often the

infection is transmitted through contaminated medical equipment like needles.

3) Women who are infected can transmit the virus to their children during pregnancy or delivery

4) There is a risk to contract or pass on hepatitis C when you have multiple sexual partners

CARD 3 TRANSMISSION

CARD 4 Key messages

1) Avoid contact with other people's blood, even dried blood.

2) Always make sure that medical and dental equipment is clean and safe, that syringes haven’t been

used. Go to a trusted health facility for your health care.

3) Do not share razor blades, tooth brushes or manicuring tools.

4) Avoid using injections when it is not needed. Most of the time, taking pills is as effective as having an

injection.

CARD 4 PREVENTION

CARD 5 Key messages

1) Medication schedule

The treatment for hepatitis C lasts 3 or 6 months. For this treatment, you need to take 2 different types

of medication: Ribavirin and Sofosbufir. Ribavirin, the capsule, should be taken in the morning and in

the evening, with food. Sofosbuvir is a tablet and is taken once a day. It can be combined with Ribavirin.

It is very important that you take the pills every day, and that you take the treatment the full period as

prescribed by the doctor.

2) Missed doses

If you forget one dose, do the following:

If you remember the same day, take it and continue with the schedule as before

If you remember only the next day, do not take it, just continue with your schedule as before.

CARD 5 MEDICATION SCHEDULE

.......

.

......

OR

.......

.......

CARD 6 Key messages

1) The treatment has minor side effects. You might feel fatigue, some headache and nausea.

2) If side effects persist, ask your doctor for advice. Don’t interrupt or stop the treatment.

CARD 6 SIDE EFFECTS

Fatigue nausea headache

CARD 7 Key messages

The medication for hepatitis C should not be combined with other pills without medical approval

because some drug interactions can be dangerous. Always consult your doctor first, before taking any

other treatment.

CARD 7 NO SELF-MEDICATION

CARD 8 Key messages

Remember we discussed the functions of the liver. One of these is to remove all bad substances from the

body and help digest fat. What you eat and drink has direct consequences for your liver.

1) The first thing to keep your liver healthy is to take care of your body weight and to have a well-

balanced diet: Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Limit meat and avoid as much as possible food

high in fat or sugar. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and exercise to keep your body in

good shape.

2) You can reduce damage to the liver by avoiding alcohol, recreational drugs and tobacco.

CARD 8 LIFESTYLE CHANGES

CARD 9 Key messages

1) If you need to travel, take enough medication with you so that you don’t interrupt your treatment. If

needed, inform us about the travel and ask for extra medication.

2) For longer trips, plan them after you completed treatment as we cannot give you medication for more

than one month and the medication is available only here.

CARD 9 TRAVEL PLAN