Hepatitis by State 2024

What Is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a medical term used to describe inflammation of the liver. There are several reasons why the liver might become inflamed. In some cases, liver inflammation can be triggered by an infection. For example, some people may contract hepatitis as a food-borne illness.

Then, there are other situations where non-infectious causes could lead to hepatitis. For example, alcohol use can lead to hepatitis. There are some people who consume too much alcohol in a single sitting, putting too much stress on the liver. As a result, the liver may become inflamed, leading to hepatitis. Some forms of hepatitis are acute, such as hepatitis A. Other forms of hepatitis are chronic, such as hepatitis C.

What State Has the Most Hepatitis Cases?

It can be difficult to say what state has the most hepatitis, as the rate of hepatitis can vary depending on the cause. In general, the Department of Health will track cases of hepatitis C, as it is a chronic condition. The states with the most hepatitis C per percentage of the population include Alaska, Tennessee, and New Mexico.

Because hepatitis C can be passed from person to person, it is important for people to be familiar with the risk of hepatitis C in the area. Then, there are other forms of hepatitis, such as hepatitis A, which may come and go relatively quickly. For this reason, cases of hepatitis A may not be tracked as closely as other forms of hepatitis.

Hepatitis A Outbreak

There was a major outbreak of hepatitis A that began in 2016. From the beginning of the outbreak to March 2023, the CDC registered 44,797 cases. Of those cases, 27,354 resulted in hospitalization and 421 resulted in death.

During this outbreak, Florida had the most cases with 5,103 cases reported in the state. Kentucky was close behind with 5,094. Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, Indiana, South Carolina, and Georgia all had at least 2,000 cases as well. As a result of the higher number of infections, these were also the states with the highest number of hospitalizations.

When looking at the percentage of those who were hospitalized as a result of their hepatitis A infections, there are some different states. Nevada had the highest hospitalization rate, with 88% of its 107 hepatitis A cases requiring hospitalization. Texas, Arizona, and Michigan had over 80% of their cases requiring hospitalization as well.

Thirty-two states had deaths resulting from this hepatitis A outbreak. The most deaths occurred in Florida (77), Kentucky (67), Michigan (30), Tennessee (28), West Virginia (23), California (21), Pennsylvania (17), Ohio (16), and North Carolina (16).

Who Is At Risk of Developing Hepatitis?

Just about anyone is capable of developing hepatitis, but there are some people who are more likely to develop hepatitis than others. For example, people who have not been vaccinated against certain forms of hepatitis are more likely to contract this illness. In addition, people who spend more time in a medical setting are also more likely to develop hepatitis, as they may be exposed to people who have hepatitis in the hospital. Furthermore, people who are born outside of the United States, as well as people who inject drugs, are more likely to develop hepatitis. Finally, sexual activity can also be a risk factor for developing hepatitis.

What Is the Treatment for Hepatitis?

The treatment for hepatitis depends on the cause of hepatitis. For example, someone who has developed hepatitis as a result of alcohol should abstain from drinking alcohol. This could be enough to help someone recover from hepatitis. Then, there are medications that can be used to treat chronic forms of hepatitis, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Some of the most popular medications include entecavir, tenofovir, lamivudine, adefovir, and telbivudine. The exact medication regimen is going to depend on the type of hepatitis someone has and the severity of the infection. Some medications are taken orally, while other medications are taken by mouth. Finally, individuals who have been diagnosed with a chronic form of hepatitis should follow up with their doctors regularly. That way, they can track the recovery process.