Symptom Advice .com » hepatitis c infection

Hepatitis C death rates rise, 1 in 33 baby boomers has disease

Symptom Advice — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 09:17:09 +0000

(Credit:AP Graphics)

(CBS/AP) Hepatitis C deaths are on the rise, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. the report found baby boomers are especially at risk because they account for two-thirds of all hepatitis C cases.

The worrisome news has prompted health officials to wonder whether anyone born between 1945 and 1965 should get a blood test for hepatitis C, because many of these boomers may have had the disease for decades without even realizing it.

“One of every 33 baby boomers are living with hepatitis C infection,” says Dr. John Ward, the CDC’s hepatitis chief. “Most people will be surprised, because it’s a silent epidemic.”

Some baby boomers may not think they’re at risk because sharing a needle while injecting illegal drugs is the biggest risk factor for becoming infected with this blood-borne virus. But before 1992, when widespread testing of the blood supply began, hepatitis C commonly was spread through blood transfusions. Plus, a one-time experiment with drugs way back when could have been enough.

“Asking someone about a risk that happened 20 to 30 years ago is a lot to ask,” says Ward. That’s why officials are seeking a new strategy.

About 3.2 million Americans are estimated to have chronic hepatitis C, but at least half of them may not know it. the virus, which affects 170 million people worldwide, can gradually scar the liver and lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. it is a leading cause of liver transplants.

For the CDC’s study, published in the Feb. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed a decade of death records and found an increase in death rates from hepatitis C. in fact, in 2007 there were 15,000 deaths related to hepatitis C, higher than previous estimates – and surpassing the nearly 13,000 deaths caused by the better-known AIDS virus. perhaps more surprising, three-fourths of the hepatitis deaths occurred in the middle-aged, people 45 to 64-years old.

“Mortality will continue to grow for the next 10 to 15 years at least unless we do something different” to find and treat the silent sufferers, Ward says.

Current CDC guidelines recommend testing people known to be at high risk, and until last summer there wasn’t much enthusiasm even for that step: the reasons are the year-long, two-drug treatment promised to cure only 40 percent of people; treatment was so grueling that many patients refused to try it and treatment could cost up to $30,000.

Two new drugs – Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ telaprevir and Merck & Co.’s boceprevir – are starting to change that pessimism. Research suggests adding one of them to standard therapy can boost cure rates as high as 75 percent. While still full of side effects, they can allow some people to finish treatment in just six months. they add to the price, however, another $1,000 to $4,000 a week. Drugs that promise to work even better are also being tested.

Those advances are fueling CDC deliberations of whether to change testing guidelines to recommend that anyone born between 1945 and 1965 get a one-time screening. A second CDC-funded study, also published in the Feb. 21 Annals, analyzed models of that option, and concluded it had the potential to save 82,000 lives.

A third study published Monday from Stanford University looked more closely at the price tag, and concluded the new triple-therapy would be cost-effective for people with advanced disease. It’s still cheaper than a transplant costing well over $100,000. But not everyone with hepatitis C will go on to suffer serious liver damage. for those with mild disease, that analysis concluded some gene testing to predict who might really need the costlier triple therapy rather than the older drugs would be a good next step.

It’s not clear how quickly the CDC will settle the boomer-screening question. But doctors at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City have started raising the issue. Montefiore internist Dr. Gary Rogg also says a number of patients have sought testing after seeing hepatitis-awareness ads from the drugs’ manufacturers.

“Now it’s considered a curable disease, that makes all the difference,” says Rogg, who was surprised at some longtime patients’ test results. Even a nurse he knows learned she had it, and the only risk she could recall was a blood transfusion during surgery when she was 10 years old.

According to WebMD, symptoms of hepatitis C include feeling very tired, joint and belly pain, itchy skin, sore muscles, yellowish eyes and skin, and dark urine. since many people with the disease don’t show symptoms, it is common for people to have hepatitis C for 15 years or longer, before it’s diagnosed as chronic hepatitis C.

The CDC has more on hepatitis C.

A.M. Vitals: Pediatricians Recommend Diagnosing ADHD As Young As Age Four

Symptom Advice — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:34:09 +0000

By Katherine Hobson

ADHD Diagnosis: New American Academy of Pediatrics treatment guidelines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder say ADHD can be diagnosed in kids as early as age four, and that Ritalin and similar drugs are an appropriate treatment even for those youngest kids with persistent symptoms when behavioral-management strategies don’t work, the WSJ reports. many ADHD medications are only approved by the FDA for kids aged six and up, but physicians can use them off-label if they wish.

Birth Weight and Autism: in other pediatrics news, researchers report that low birth weight is linked to a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder later on, Health.com reports. five percent of babies born at less than 4 pounds, 7 ounces went on to develop an autism spectrum disorder by age 21, compared to about 1% of the overall population, Health.com says. The research, which appears in the journal Pediatrics, cannot say whether low birth weight actually causes autism.

Acquiring Anadys: Roche is buying Anadys Pharmaceuticals, which focuses on developing potential treatments for hepatitis C infection, for $230 million, the WSJ reports. The $3.70 per-share price for Anadys is 256% higher than its closing stock price on Friday.

Out of Antarctica: Renee-Nicole Douceur, the engineer who fell ill while working in the South Pole, has been successfully evacuated to New Zealand, ABC News reports. Douceur suffered symptoms of what may have been a stroke in late August, but a rescue was delayed because of weather conditions.

Hepatitis C- A Big Problem « Cecilia Eugene

Symptom Advice — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:34:11 +0000

Image : flickr.com

Hepatitis C is a medical condition that shows no symptoms in many of the people that come in contact with the hepatitis C virus. Although there are symptoms which indicate hepatitis C, many doctors may also mistake them for other condition symptoms. Hepatitis C is a condition that can lead to liver diseased and even liver damage.

Some of the symptoms for hepatitis C can be fatigue, nausea, headaches and even memory loss from time to time. There are a lot of cases where people who had those hepatitis symptoms were diagnosed incorrectly because the doctors could not figure out that they actually had a hepatitis C infection. this is a very serious condition that hides its roots well. the main way of the hepatitis c virus spread is through blood. this hepatitis virus can also be passes down from mother to fetus, but these are less common cases of hepatitis C. because hepatitis C is a silent condition , many people come to suffer from severe liver damage. You can have the hepatitis C virus, but because there are no hepatitis symptoms not even know that. the hepatitis virus has a period of incubation of about 180 days and afterward hepatitis C sets up. the hepatitis virus shows no signs that he is there and slowly starts to damage your liver. many people realize that they have hepatitis C after they have come to chronic hepatitis stage.

There is no vaccine that can help you prevent the infection with hepatitis C virus. so all one can do to prevent hepatitis C is to avoid all the risk factors. If the hepatitis C virus is contacted, your body will try to fight it. However, the hepatitis virus can mutate and evade your immune system. As many as 80 percent of the people that are infected with the hepatitis C virus will not be able to destroy it completely. There are hepatitis C treatments available, but unfortunately they do not work for all the hepatitis patients. Some people are not able to support the mediation that must be taken in case of infection with the hepatitis C virus. There are also side effects of the hepatitis C treatment that must be taken into consideration. Doctors still search for an effective hepatitis C treatment. the most recent discovery in a hepatitis C treatment is a genetically engineered drug which must be comnined with another drug called ribavirin.

For more resources about hepatitis c symptoms [hepatitis-guide.com/hepatitis-c-symptoms.htm] please review [hepatitis-guide.com/hepatitis-c-transmission.htm] or even [hepatitis-guide.com/hepatitis-c-treatment.htm]

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Hepatitis C- Symptoms, Complications & Cure!

Symptom Advice — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:34:31 +0000

What is Hepatitis C? Hepatitis C is a contagious disease that attacks the liver, and is the result of infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). the severity of symptoms for Hepatitis C ranges from a mild illness that may only last several weeks (referred to as “Acute” Hepatitis C infection), to a permanent condition (referred to as a “Chronic” Hepatitis C infection. What are the statistics? Based on data released by the CDC (US Center for Disease Control), there were an estimated 19,000 new Hepatitis C virus infections reported in 2006. however, it is important to note that the reported number of Hepatitis C cases is estimated to be much lower than the actual number of infections. This is because many people who are infected with Hepatitis C never display physical symptoms of the infection and; therefore, their infection never comes to the attention of the CDC. Statistics for both “Chronic” and “Acute” Hepatitis C infection are as follows: what are the symptoms of Hepatitis C? Symptoms of acute hepatitis C, if they appear, can include: how soon do Hepatitis C symptoms appear after infection? If symptoms do occur, they will normally manifest about 6-7 weeks after infection. however, it is important to note that it is possible for symptoms to appear anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure to Hepatitis C. How is Hepatitis C transmitted? Hepatitis C is transmitted when the blood of an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected with Hepatitis C. Although it is possible to contract and transmit Hepatitis C through sexual activity, most infections are a result of sharing needles or other paraphernalia used for the injection of drugs. the most common methods of Hepatitis C transmission are: there are also several less common methods of Hepatitis C transmission: What are ways Hepatitis C is not spread? Hepatitis C is not spread through normal, daily interaction. for instance, Hepatitis C cannot be transmitted from person to person through: the sharing of eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. Can you get Hepatitis C from sexual contact? Yes, it is possible to transmit Hepatitis C during sex. however, the perceived risk of transmission during sexual activities is believed to be quite low. It is important to note that those at higher risk of contracting Hepatitis C through sexual activity are those individuals who engage in sexual activity with multiple partners, have another STD or STI (including HIV), and/or engage in very rough sex. Can you get Hepatitis C from a tattoo or a piercing? If an unregulated tattoo parlor employs poor infection control procedures during tattooing or body piercing, it may be possible to contract Hepatitis C. however, research has not shown that tattoo parlors which are regulated and follow correct procedures, to aid in transmission of Hepatitis C. who is at increased risk for Hepatitis C? the high risk category of people for Hepatitis C infection includes: the following are situations that can put you at risk for Hepatitis C, although they are low-risk scenarios: Can Hepatitis C be passed through pregnancy? Yes, although this type of transmission is believed to be quite rare. Statistically, about 4 of every 100 babies that are born from an infected mother will be given Hepatitis C at birth. The risk of infection during child birth increases drastically. Can you spread Hepatitis C without having symptoms? Yes. Many people that have Hepatitis C infection do not experience symptoms, and are still able to infect another individual. are there long term affects of Hepatitis C? Yes. Hepatitis C can result in various long-term effects on an infected person’s body. Out of every 100 people infected with the virus, the following estimated amount will have the virus progress to more serious complications: 75-85 people will have Acute Hepatitis C progress to Chronic Hepatitis C. of those 75-80,಼-70 will go on to develop chronic liver disease. Of those, 5-20 people will contract cirrhosis (normally happening over a span of 20-30 years). of those, 1-5 people will die from either liver cancer or cirrhosis Can Hepatitis C go away on its own? Yes, approximately 15%-25% of those infected with Hepatitis C will clear the virus without any medical treatment. the reason as to why certain individuals are able to clear the virus without medical attention is currently not fully understood. who should be tested for Hepatitis C? According to CDC guidelines, the following types of individuals are considered high-risk and should be screened for Hepatitis C infection: should you be tested for Hepatitis C when pregnant? Hepatitis C is not a routine part of prenatal care. however, anyone that is at risk for Hepatitis C (especially pregnant women that fall within the high-risk category) should be screened for infection. how do you test for Hepatitis C? the Hepatitis C test normally consists of a blood test that looks for antibodies that have been developed by the body to stave off Hepatitis C infection. At getSTDtested.com, we use a Hepatitis C Antibody Test Reflex to HCV RIBA test, which is the earliest indicator of infection. This test conducts a screening test first to determine if you may have Hepatitis C and when indicated it automatically switches to the relfex test to confirm whether or not you are infected. is there a vaccine for Hepatitis C? not yet. There are currently vaccines are available only for Hepatitis a and Hepatitis B.

EGYPT: Hepatitis C infection reaches alarming figures

Symptom Advice — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:17:20 +0000

This is a reply from Egyptian Minstry of HealthThe Egyptian MOH reply to the article titled "Egypt: Hepatitis C infection reaches alarming figures": Los Angeles Times, 8th Nov., 2010The Egyptian government considers viral hepatitis and HCV in particular, one the most significant public health priority. therefore, the Egyptian Ministry of Health (MOH) has in the last five years established the National Committee for Viral Hepatitis and has undertaken the following steps towards HCV prevention and control:1) Viral Hepatitis Control Strategy (2008-2012): it was outlined to ensure strengthening and expansion of the national multisectoral response to viral hepatitis. it is available online at: hepegypt.org/htdocs/NSP_10_April_2008_final.pdf

2) National Survey: a national HCV survey was conducted in all Governorates of Egypt to determine the actual prevalence of HCV. the survey was conducted within the context of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS, 2008) in collaboration with international organizations such as UNICEF, USAID and Macro International. the prevalence in individuals above 15 years was 9.8%

3) HCV Treatment plan: the national HCV treatment program was started in 2006 and has, up to date, treated 125,000 patients in 21 centers that were established within the MOH Hospitals nationwide. the cost of peglycated Interferon per person is about 18,000 EGY Pounds (about 3000 $) and is totally supported by the MOH in what is considered to be one of the largest hepatitis treatment program worldwide.

4) HCV Prevention: the Egyptian MOH has been pursuing a comprehensive Infection Control Program which includes infection control in hospitals and other medical and paramedical settings, in addition to the establishment of a national blood bank, a full coverage rate of childhood vaccination against HBV and a strategy to control infection in high-risk groups as health care workers, sanitation workers and injecting drug users (IDUs). A public awareness campaigns is being conducted using media, and other channels of communication.concerning the article published in the Los Angeles Times on November 8th, 2010; it has the following inaccurate information:- The study mentioned in the article was published in the National Academy of Science, estimated the HCV incidence by using a mathematical models and various assumptions. Caution is required in interpreting the results of such studies. therefore, the figure 500,000 new HCV cases does not reflect the actual number of cases, which needs properly designed incidence studies. moreover, detection of new HCV infection is challenging because the majority of infected cases are asymptomatic.

- Previous studies have estimated the HCV incidence but the validity of their results was limited because of the very small sample size (the majority of these studies were conducted in selected small geographic areas with high HCV prevalence; not representative of the general population or reflecting the national figures). in other words, they lacked the generalizability of their results.

- The most accurate and accepted figure regarding the HCV prevalence in population above 15 years is 9.8% (Egyptian DHS, 2008). the MOH conducted a study to estimate the HCV prevalence in children below 15 years that represent 36% of the total population. the prevalence of HCV in this age group was 0.52%. in other words, the weighted average of overall prevalence is about 6.6%.

- The cost of HCV treatment per person in Egypt is currently about 3000 $ not 12.000 $. the total annual expenditure for HCV treatment in Egypt is about 900 million EGY pounds (about 158 millions $). the vast majority of anti-HCV medicines are imported from international companies and the remaining small portions are manufactured nationally and verified by the local authority. Randomized controlled clinical trials are now underway to study its efficacy, and preliminary results are encouraging. in conclusion, the MOH totally disagrees with the claims that were published in your Journal as it is far from fact or any scientific basis. the figures mentioned in the article were a mix of inaccurate scientific data and wrong subjective interpretation. moreover, the article neglected the achievements that have been done by the Egyptian government towards prevention and control of HCV as the MOH is allocating its maximum available resources in its battle against HCV infection.

Dr.Abdul Rahman Shahen Media Consultant of Egyptian Minstry of Health