Symptom Advice .com » virus infections

Flu outbreak on cruise ship

Symptom Advice — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:00:23 +0000

A significant number of passengers were still suffering from the symptoms of a major flu-outbreak aboard the luxury cruise ship ‘Arcadia’, when it called at the port of Walvis Bay last Friday. Many were not able to disembark at major ports, as the symptoms included severe coughing and shortness of breath, obliging especially elderly passengers to stay aboard.

Passengers referred to the flu as the “Arcadian Cough.” Many were confined to their cabins onboard and advised to stay indoors. The ship’s medical staff was inundated with patients taking ill on the journey, some whom were treated and returned to their cabins while some were kept in the ship’s hospital for observation.The passengers shared their frustrations over the flu outbreak online by posting blogs and updates to networking sites, including Facebook and YouTube. The outbreak also fetched headlines in newspapers in the smaller port cities along the way and highlighted the importance of hygienic standards and the regular sterilisation of passenger ships to avoid pest outbreaks or germ and virus infections that target and compromise the human immune system.“Arcadia” is on a four-month world cruise that started in Southampton, via the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal to Asia, Australia, the Indian Ocean and Cape Town. It is now on the north-bound return-journey to the United Kingdom traveling via Walvis Bay, St. Helena and Tenerife.

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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.

What is Hepatitis B?

Symptom Advice — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:17:13 +0000

Hepatitis B is a contagious disease that attacks the liver, and is the result of infection with the Hepatitis B virus. The severity of symptoms for Hepatitis B ranges from a mild illness that may only last several weeks, to a serious, permanent condition. Hepatitis B infection can be an “acute” or “chronic” illness: Acute Hepatitis B: A short-term illness that normally manifests within the first 6 months exposure. It is possible for a Hepatitis B infection to progress from acute to chronic. Chronic Hepatitis B: A permanent, long-term condition that can occur when the Hepatitis B virus remains in an infected person’s body. What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B? Symptoms of acute hepatitis B, if they appear, can vary widely. these acute symptoms can include: What are the statistics for Hepatitis B? In 2006, there were an estimated 46,000 new Hepatitis B virus infections in the United States. however, the official number of reported Hepatitis B cases is much lower than the actual number of infected people. Many people may not have symptoms and don’t know they are infected, therefore never seeking the attention of medical or public health officials. How common is chronic Hepatitis B in the US? in the United States, an estimated 800ꯠ to 1.4 million persons have chronic Hepatitis B virus infection. How is Hepatitis B transmitted? The Hepatitis B infection is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid that is infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People can become infected with the virus during activities such as: who is at increased risk for Hepatitis B? Although anyone can get hepatitis B, some people are at greater risk, such as those who: How do I prevent Hepatitis B from happening to me? The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting the hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots over a 6-month period. Most residents of the United States are now required to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B before attending college. If you have been vaccinated against Hepatitis B you do not need any further Hepatitis B testing. Can you get tested for Hepatitis B? Yes – there are many different blood tests available to diagnose hepatitis B. since Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) is a protein on the surface of the Hepatitis B virus, it can be detected in the blood during acute or chronic Hepatitis B virus infection. getSTDtested.com offers a blood test for Hepatitis B, which you can test for at any of our over 2,000 local medical centers across the US. How soon do symptoms of Hepatitis B appear after infection? For most, Hepatitis B symptoms appear 90 days (or 3 months) after exposure, but symptoms can appear any time between 6 weeks and 6 months after exposure to the Hepatitis B virus. Is there a vaccine or treatment for Hepatitis B? Yes, there is a vaccine. The Hepatitis B vaccine series is a sequence of shots that stimulate a person’s natural immune system to protect against HBV (Hepatitis B Virus). after the vaccine is given, the body makes antibodies that protect a person against the virus. An antibody is a substance found in the blood that is produced in response to a virus invading the body. these antibodies are then stored in the body and will fight off the infection if a person is exposed to the hepatitis B virus in the future. who should be vaccinated for Hepatitis B? Hepatitis B vaccination is CDC recommended for: in order to reach individuals at risk for hepatitis B, vaccination is also recommended for anyone in or seeking treatment from the following: when should someone get the Hepatitis B vaccine? The hepatitis B vaccine for Children and Adolescents: all children should get their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and complete the vaccine series by 6-18 months of age. all children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not yet gotten the vaccine should also be vaccinated. “Catch-up” vaccination is recommended for children and adolescents who were never vaccinated or who did not get the entire vaccine series.The hepatitis B vaccine for Adults: any adult who is at risk for hepatitis B virus infection or who wants to be vaccinated should talk to a health professional about getting the vaccine series.while we recommend everyone get vaccinated for Hepatitis B after testing negative, at this time we can only offer the Hepatitis B Test and not the vaccine. Get tested today!