Sporting View: Hepatitis in sport

Hepatitis is a general term that means inflammation of the liver.

The liver can become inflamed as a result of infection, a disorder of the immune system, or exposure to alcohol, certain medications, toxins, or poisons. Hepatitis infection has two phases: acute and chronic.Acute (new, short-term) hepatitis B occurs shortly after exposure to the virus.A small number of people develop a very severe, life-threatening form of acute hepatitis called fulminant hepatitis.Chronic (ongoing, long-term) hepatitis B is an infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) that lasts longer than six months.Once the infection becomes chronic, it may never go away completely.Hepatitis is thus a virus that can cause serious illness.To become infected with hepatitis B or C during sport, blood from an infected person needs to enter your bloodstream in large enough quantities.How hepatitis B and C are spread Hepatitis B is a blood borne virus (BBV) and is spread as follow: Unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex (without a condom or dam) with an infected person Sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment with an infected person From mother to baby during childbirth or breastfeeding.Hepatitis C is also spread through blood, but is not sexually transmitted unless blood is present.Hepatitis B carriers People with hepatitis B can develop mild, unobserved or severe illness.In most people, the infection clears up, leaving a lifetime immunity.However, a small percentage of those infected will become carriers and remain infectious for life.It is unlikely you will catch hepatitis B or C during sport The risk of catching hepatitis B or C from an infected player is: Extremely low for other players.Nil for social contacts and providers of services Low for first aid providers, if infection control procedures are followed.Hepatitis B or C cannot be caught from: Sharing drink bottles.Shared toilets, showers or spas.Hugging or shaking hands.People with a blood borne virus (BBV) cannot be banned from sport.People with these viruses are also entitled to keep the fact that they are infected confidential.Protecting other players and officials Simple and inexpensive procedures can prevent the spread of BBVs: Wear protective gloves when giving first aid to a bleeding player.Wipe any blood from the face or limbs of players.Bloodstained towels should not be reused.Put bloodstained clothing in a plastic bag for disposal or laundering.Players should not be allowed to continue in the game until bleeding has stopped, and the wound is cleaned and covered.If there is concern about cross infection, contact a doctor straight away.All players, coaches, officials and first aid officers should be aware of these infection control guidelines and treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious.Immunisation is available against Hepatitis B You can be immunised against hepatitis B but not against hepatitis C.Those responsible for managing on-field injuries should consider hepatitis B immunisation.Infection control procedures should be used even if you are immunised.* Donatha Ngunovandu Gawanab is a local Sports Medic.Hepatitis infection has two phases: acute and chronic.Acute (new, short-term) hepatitis B occurs shortly after exposure to the virus.A small number of people develop a very severe, life-threatening form of acute hepatitis called fulminant hepatitis.Chronic (ongoing, long-term) hepatitis B is an infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) that lasts longer than six months.Once the infection becomes chronic, it may never go away completely.Hepatitis is thus a virus that can cause serious illness.To become infected with hepatitis B or C during sport, blood from an infected person needs to enter your bloodstream in large enough quantities.How hepatitis B and C are spread Hepatitis B is a blood borne virus (BBV) and is spread as follow: Unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex (without a condom or dam) with an infected person Sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment with an infected person From mother to baby during childbirth or breastfeeding.Hepatitis C is also spread through blood, but is not sexually transmitted unless blood is present.Hepatitis B carriers People with hepatitis B can develop mild, unobserved or severe illness.In most people, the infection clears up, leaving a lifetime immunity.However, a small percentage of those infected will become carriers and remain infectious for life.It is unlikely you will catch hepatitis B or C during sport The risk of catching hepatitis B or C from an infected player is: Extremely low for other players.Nil for social contacts and providers of services Low for first aid providers, if infection control procedures are followed.Hepatitis B or C cannot be caught from: Sharing drink bottles.Shared toilets, showers or spas.Hugging or shaking hands.People with a blood borne virus (BBV) cannot be banned from sport.People with these viruses are also entitled to keep the fact that they are infected confidential.Protecting other players and officials Simple and inexpensive procedures can prevent the spread of BBVs: Wear protective gloves when giving first aid to a bleeding player.Wipe any blood from the face or limbs of players.Bloodstained towels should not be reused.Put bloodstained clothing in a plastic bag for disposal or laundering.Players should not be allowed to continue in the game until bleeding has stopped, and the wound is cleaned and covered.If there is concern about cross infection, contact a doctor straight away.All players, coaches, officials and first aid officers should be aware of these infection control guidelines and treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious.Immunisation is available against Hepatitis B You can be immunised against hepatitis B but not against hepatitis C.Those responsible for managing on-field injuries should consider hepatitis B immunisation.Infection control procedures should be used even if you are immunised.* Donatha Ngunovandu Gawanab is a local Sports Medic.