Medical Treatments and Therapies

This pamphlet explains basic facts about cirrhosis, which is a disease of the liver. It can help patients understand the causes and treatments of cirrhosis. The pamphlet answers patients' questions about common complications of cirrhosis and provides information on how to deal with these complications. It also provides practical tips on how to keep a patient's liver as healthy as possible, including things to do and things to avoid.

This pamphlet provides information about hepatitis B, a viral disease that affects the liver. It discusses the liver and how it is affected by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), what is chronic hepatitis B, who gets HBV, its transmission and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment such as liver transplantation if chronic hepatitis B causes liver failure. The pamphlet also discusses HBV prevention including vaccination, what to do if exposed to HBV, getting tested and early treatment to prevent liver damage, and participating in clinical trials. The pamphlet also provides contacts for more information.

This visual file consists of 37 slides on the medical case management of diabetes mellitus and HIV. It explains the two types of diabetes, the class of HIV drugs that cause kidney problems or worsening of diabetes, the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, and effective treatment. The online link can be found at http://aidsetc.org/aidsetc?page=etres-display&resource=etres-529.

This internet file provides an algorithm for the management and treatment of hepatitis C. It is based on a critical review of available data and expert consensus.

This information sheet explains the liver infection, hepatitis B, what happens if an individual is infected, the tests needed to know if an individual has recovered or become chronically infected, how chronic infection is diagnosed, how to prevent spreading the disease to others, treatment for chronic hepatitis B, and how an individual with chronic hepatitis B can live a healthy lifestyle. It includes information on finding a liver specialist, and an online support group.

This information sheet points out that the fungus Cryptococcus is the most common cause of meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa, and is a leading cause of death among people with HIV. Although it is not possible to prevent the initial infection with Cryptococcus, screening for cryptococcal antigen can detect disease before meningitis develops so treatment can begin and prevent death. A rapid, point-of-care dipstick test is now available for use in screening.

This internet file educates patients about hepatitis C treatment. It discusses the drugs approved for treatment of hepatitis C, why medications are used to treat the disease and how they are used, how likely it that the treatment will work, how the doctor monitors patients during treatment, side effects and how to cope with them, how patients can improve the chances of responding to treatment, why some patients take treatment and others do not, and where to get more information on the subject.

This information sheet is an agenda for providers who are taking a two-day training program in which they learn to serve persons at high risk for viral hepatitis. This material lists the training objectives and provides training modules, including specific modules targeted for substance use programs. The training can be used in substance use settings, STD/public health settings, HIV/AIDS programs, and correctional settings, as well as used for providers from all four target settings.

This report discusses a study showing how available technology, expert training, and real-time feedback helped to ensure that patients treated for hepatitis C in local communities did as well as patients treated at a university-based medical center. Using videoconference or teleconference lines, community-based medical teams, including physicians and nurses, participated in weekly clinics with specialists, in which they collaborated on treatment plans using evidence-based treatment approaches.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Stepwise Approach for Detecting, Evaluating, and Treating Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection provides recommendations for the medical management of federal inmates with chronic hepatitis B, or who are otherwise at risk of infection. The treatment of chronic hepatitis B in pregnancy or with hepatocellular carcinoma is beyond the scope of this guideline. For a more in-depth discussion of vaccination strategies and management of blood and body fluid exposures, the reader should refer to the BOP Clinical Practice Guidelines for those topics.