Hepatitis

Question: What is the difference between hepatitis c and hepatitis b? What is the difference between hepatitis c and hepatitis b? And also can it be possible to have a false positive on a Hepatitis B test? My friend tested negative 4 months ago for it, but now she got a test again and it came back positive this time, but nothing has changed in her life. Same sex partner, no cheating, no drug use or anything. So she went back today to get another re-test, thinking that the positive test was a mistake. We won't find out the answers for a few days though. But basically the reason why she gets tested so often for this type of stuff is because she is trying to get pregnant with invitro, and they must test for all of these diseases before they will inseminate you with the fertilized egg. Anyway, if she does really have Hepatitis B, why isn't she sick? And will she eventually get sick? And also, how long does it take to show up on a blood test before you do test positive for Hepatitis B, I mean can she have caught it a year ago, but it just now showed up?

Answer: The main difference is that they are caused by different viruses.

Question: What type of hepatitis is it possible to contract from a blood transfusion? My surgeon said there is a 1 % chance of contracting hepatitis from the blood transfusion I just rec'd. Does anyone know what type of Hepatitis he means? I have been vaccinated against A and B. He said of that 1 % chance there is only a 1 % chance that the hepatitis is untreatable.

Answer: PENWESTERN - There are many different types of hepatitis. Of those caused by a virus during blood transfusion, the TWO are hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Though both are tested on blood donations, in the very first stages of infection these viruses may not be detected while they are still infectious. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are more serious infections that are transmitted through infected bodily fluids such as blood and semen. Because of your vaccination ("immunizations") you do NOT have to worry about hepatitis B. Hepatitis A is NOT transmitted by transfusion. There is, as yet, no effective vaccine against hepatitis C though much effort is being made to develop such an immunization.

Question: What are the chances of getting hepatitis from a tattoo? I'm getting a tattoo soon, and I am positive that I want one. The only thing I'm worried about is getting hepatitis- a blood disease that I've heard could be easily passed along when getting a tattoo- much easier to get than AIDS. I'm very, very nervous about this. Does anyone know what the chances are of getting hepatitis from a tattoo? Do you know anyone who's gotten it from a tattoo? Or maybe you did? I just need all the information i can get about hepatitis, how it is contracted, etc. The place I'm going for my tattoo says that the tattoo artists have been vaccinated with hepatitis A and B shots. So that being said, how much of a chance is there? And isn't there a hepatitis C?

Answer: Yes, I know LOTS of people who have gotten Hep C through tattoos. Hepatitis A & B have vaccines, but there is no vaccine for Hep c (HCV) which is a disease that is transmitted by blood to blood contamination. And the thing that makes HCV (and HBV) so contagious is that it can live outside the human body for days, on instruments like needles and in the ink, too. A reputable tattoo shop will use new, disposable needles that are to be opened right in front of you. The ink should be poured into small containers then the leftover ink should be thrown out, not reused. The tattoo artist should be wearing gloves, and the environment should be clean. If all those things happen, then you won't get HCV from a tattoo. I was diagnosed seven years ago with HCV. I never had a tattoo. My husband and I ride motorcycles with many of our friends who are bikers. I've been teased many times because I won't get a tattoo, but after having to give myself interferon injections three times a week for 6 months, I don't want to take a chance of exposing myself to a HCV risk factor. I cleared the virus on the chemotherapy treatment and don't want to go through it again if I don't have to. You will need to do the research and make an educated decision. Best wishes to you.

Question: How common is hepatitis after a blood transfusion in the US? What type of hepatitis shows up in these cases? Is it possible for hepatitis to show symptoms at the 4 months mark?

Answer: Very rare if you received blood after 1987. It is tested carefully now - and while nothing is 100% effective - getting hepatitis now is rare. And yes, if there are any questions - get tested after 6-9 months to be 100% certain. You did not mention Hepatitis A,B, or C. A is fecal-oral transmission (isn't that gross? Someone doesn't wash their hands after stooling, maybe prepares your food and bingo - you catch Hep A). B and C are blood borne. A common transmission for these are razors and tooth brushes. NEVER use someone else's razor or tooth brush!!!

Question: How long after possibly being exposed to Hepatitis should you get a test to get the most accurate results? My girlfriend is a dental assistant and was transferring tools that were used to clean the mouth of a patient that previously had hepatitis. One tool poked her finger thru the bag and she squeezed it until it bled. She doesn't believe there was blood on the tool and she had her Hep vaccinations last year. There's probably very little or no chance she could contract Hepatitis thru it, but how long after the incident should she wait to get a blood test to confirm it?

Answer: She needs to run a full course of Hep B vaccine, which is three shots. Did she get her blood drawn after the shots to make sure she was immune? There is no shot for Hep C. How long after exposure to HCV does it take to test positive for HCV antibodies? Anti-HCV can be found in 70% of people when symptoms begin (6-7 weeks after exposure) and in about 90% of people within 3 months after symptoms begin. However, many people with HCV have no symptoms. How long after exposure to HCV does it take to test positive with PCR? With the PCR test, it is possible to find HCV within 1-2 weeks after being infected with the virus.

Question: Can someone who was previously infected with acute hepatitis C but has been cleared of it still infect others? "The other 15% of hepatitis C virus infected individuals simply have an acute infection; that is, one that resolves spontaneously in a few weeks or months". Is there still a possibility of someone who fits the above description, to infect their spouse with hepatitis C?

Answer: No Hep C is super, super hard to transmit. If your Hep C is cleared, that means you have NO active viral particles in your blood. That is good! Even if you have chronic positive, it is still hard to transmit, for example, my husband's mother has had it since before he was even born. He does not have it, and his dad does not have it. So, you see it does not transmit so easily. I would not be freaking out at this point at all.

Question: What is the frequency in hepatitis and how do you get the disease? What is the frequency in hepatitis and how do you get it? how is it past down to a person? how do you prevent it.

Answer: Hepatitis A, B, or C. Hepatitis C is the worst. My dad had it he passed away over a year ago. You can get it from having unprotected sex w/ an infected person. You can also get it from using drugs IV drugs after someone.You can get it from clean needles. If you are under 19yrs. old you can go to your nearest health department and get vaccinations. Hepatitis destroys your liver. I'm not to familiar w/ hept. A or B. I know you can get hept. A from not washing your hands. WebMd can tell you more.

Question: Can you get hepatitis from exposure to urine? I understand that hepatitis A is usually transmitted via fecal matter, but can you get any form of hepatitis from exposure to infected urine?

Answer: a-no b-possibly c-no-unless there is an infection to where blood would be an issue and you had an open wound. d-maybe since some of those with hbv will be dually infected with hepatitis d e-(like a) no-rare anyway in the united states

Question: Any cures for people with Hepatitis C for headaches ? A friend has Hepatitis C. Her liver is weak due to the Hep C. I looked up a list of things she should be avoiding and taking more of.She's not supposed to take acetaminophen or ibuprofen because it weakens the liver. However, she got a really bad headache today and couldn't take anything to relieve the pain. Any ideas for home remedies to relieve headaches or any other medicines she can take? Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer: Most books say that the typical approach is low dose acetaminophen (500-1000mg) per day which most texts say isn't too harmful, but that would probably assume you were not in the later stages. I hate to say it but in many cases I see narcotics being used such as a low acetaminophen hydrocodone combo. 10/325 or something like that to minimize the amount of tylenol. I have to say this but, opiate pain medications can be very addictive as I cannot suggest someone resort to that unless they are aware of the potential dangers if they aren't already. Oxycodone is not supposed to be harmful to the liver, or at least not that any research has found yet that I'm aware of. So, that is sometimes used if the dr. feels it is appropriate. I would assume that a plain oxycodone pill minus the tylenol would be the best bet if absolutely necessary. I guess it would all depend on what other health problems you have and what parts of your gastrointestinal system are most sensitive. Even the oxycodone while not particularly harmful to your liver can cause constipation and that probably wouldn't be real helpful if your friends liver is weak. It's really tough to find a pain med that is side-effect free... although exedrin has always worked wonders for me, tylenol and aspirin by themselves do nothing, but small doses of caffeine are added to dilates the blood vessels. I have been making a list of herbal remedies that are safe and effective, and it seems that she may find an answer there. Ultimately, it is up to her doctor to decide what is best suited for your friends case. Try searching the links below and perhaps you may find some info she can discuss with her doctor there. There is a link below where you can find a lot of storys from others. The first is a topic on pain meds, and the other is just the entrance to a forum of countless others dealing with this disease.

Question: What is a reason other than hepatitis for liver enzymes to be elevated in the blood? I had a blood test done, and my liver enzymes were high. However, they were no higher then they were four years ago, when they tested me for hepatitis. I'm not a drinker, or a smoker, and I'm wondering what else could possibly cause this.

Answer: Hi Accalia Some of the other reasons for elevated liver enzymes are obesity, elevated triglycerides, overuse of OTC and prescription drugs, iron overload, gallstones, fatty liver (NASH and NAFLD) and cirrhosis. The most likely reason may be Metabolic Syndrome, the constellation of conditions related to insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar. Fatty liver diseases, NASH and NAFLD, are related. Adopting a diet that includes increased leafy green vegetables, moderate lean protein and reduced sugars and starches is recommended. Some researchers believe that they have evidence that suggests the insidious use of high fructose corn syrup in so many products is creating a kidney and liver disease epidemic. Here's a list of non-HFCS products: http://highfructosehigh.com/no-hfcs/ Exercise is also extremely important. If you have a family history of liver disease and diabetes you might consider getting your storage iron tested for iron overload. Please also check out my other answer about fatty liver here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkEhdcMtesw.oasTVpT2flnty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090104031733AAqozea&show=7#profile-info-oAyfPk2oaa Hope this helps some! Good luck!

Question: Hepatitis? what is hepatitis and how does it spread? What forms of hepatitis exist and what are complications of untreated hepatis?

Answer: Hepatitis simply refers to inflammation and/or injury of the liver. There are many causes of hepatitis -- too many to list here. The most common causes of hepatitis include infections (viral being the most common, but also bacterial and fungal), alcohol abuse, medications (certain over-the-counter and prescription medications can lead to liver injury), autoimmune disorders and fatty deposits in the liver, such as those that may form in diabetic patients. When most people refer to hepatitis, they are probably talking about viral hepatitis, which is classified into several types. Hepatitis A, which is very common in underdeveloped countries, is acquired from water or food sources. This type of hepatitis is usually mild and may sometimes be discovered only by blood testing. Hepatitis A never leads to chronic liver disease. The hepatitis B virus is most often contracted via blood contact -- such as with IV drug abusers sharing needles or health care workers who are stuck by tainted needles. It can also be spread via sexual contact and from mother to baby during childbirth. Hepatitis B can lead to chronic liver disease and the complications that result from it. Hepatitis C is spread via blood and body-fluid contact (as with Hepatitis B). Hepatitis C used to be the most common type of hepatitis acquired via blood transfusions until a test for it became available in the 1980s. Hepatitis C commonly leads to chronic hepatitis and over many years can lead to chronic liver disease manifested by cirrhosis. Other much less common types of viral hepatitis include hepatitis D (which is seen most commonly in IV drug abusers and which requires co-infection with hepatitis B), hepatitis E (seen in pregnant women and spread in a similar fashion to hepatitis A) and hepatitis G (commonly seen in patients who are undergoing hemodialysis). It is speculated that other types of viral hepatitis have yet to be identified.

Question: How can people get hepatitis from tongue piercing? I'm 21 years old and I have plans of getting my tongue pierced. I have been reading about hepatitis (which according to my research, it is a risk of tongue piercing) but I cant seem to find how do these connect. Any help? of websites containing this information or personal knowledge? Thanks in advance!

Answer: Hepatitis C is transmitted by blood. That includes sharing needles for drug use, use of contaminated tattoo needles, and use of contaminated needles for piercing. Hep C can also be transmitted by sharing razors or toothbrushes. If new, sterile needles are used for tattooing and piercing (as they are supposed to be) there is no risk of transmission of hepatitis C.

Question: How high does the viral count have to be for Hepatitis B to be concerned? I have a friend who's viral count for hepatitis that's about 40 million. Is this dangerous?

Answer: yes, viral loads above 2000 are worrisome. The higher the viral load, the more likely you are to get liver cancer, for example. Also, viral load can correlate with liver damage. This is in contrast to hepatitis C where it does not correlate. This person needs evaluation by a hepatologist (liver specialist). I would start by looking at http://www.hepb.org/resources/liver_spec…

Question: Do I need to get a Hepatitis A vaccine before traveling to Taiwan for 2 weeks? How high is the risk of contracting Hepatitis A in Taiwan? Please answer only if you have concrete knowledge of the risk specific in Taiwan.

Answer: Yes, I am taiwan and I took a vaccine before traveling last year so it would be safe to take a vaccine.

Question: Is it harmful to take the Hepatitis B vaccine twice? I can't remember if I've had the Hepatitis B vaccine before, but I need it for a job. Should I go ahead and get it again?

Answer: Nope. It won't hurt you. I have had the Hep B vaccine 13 times. However, it was only because I didn't convert...my body failed to produce antibodies and I'm not immune to it. This is not common. If you are offered it, go ahead and get it. Your employer should cover the cost. EMT

Question: What medications were used to treat hepatitis during WWII? My father-in-law is retired from the Army & is applying to the VA to receive benefits for Parkinson's disease. He claims the Army treated him for hepatitis at one point, & is trying to find out if any of the medications (or routine vaccines, for that matter) they might have given him would have caused Parkinson's-like symptoms to appear later in life.

Answer: coyotewomanwaits In WWII, there was a positive association found between relapses and early ambulation. Three controlled studies showed that patients treated with a high-protein diet and prolonged bed rest fared better than those on an ad lib rest and diet. Based on the results of this study, recommendations for the treatment of acute infectious hepatitis were made to the Surgeon General of the Armed Forces. These recommendations included: ad lib rest after symptoms dissipate, high-calorie protein rich diet, and resumption of vigorous activity after bilirubin levels drop below 1.5 mg/100 mL. It remains unclear whether these recommendations were implemented in military policy. Treatment for acute hepatitis caused by HAV was supportive in nature because no antiviral therapy was available. Hepatitis A was separated from Hepatitis B in 1945 by Neefe and Stokes et al, following transmission to volunteers in 1944. Hepatitis B virus was discovered by Dr. Blumberg in 1967, for which he won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1976. In 1988 Hepatitis C virus was confirmed and in April of 1989 the discovery of the virus was re-named hepatitis C virus (HCV). The Hepatitis D virus was discovered by Dr. Mario Rizzetto in 1977. However, Hepatitis D requires the presence of the Hepatitis B virus in order to cause an infection. The hepatitis D virus is therefore called a "defective" virus. It cannot infect the liver without Hepatitis B. Hepatitis E was discovered by Dr, Robert Purcell in the late 1970’s and a vaccine was produced and tested between 2000 to 2004 and found to be effective Hepatitis G was discovered in 1996 at the Abbott Laboratories. Parkinson caused by the antipsychotic drugs has been recognized since the early 1950s. These drugs include the older major tranquilizers such as Haldol, Prolixin, Stelazine and Thorazine, the newer major antipsychotic drugs such as Risperdal, Orap, and Zyprexa, and drugs used for nausea, vomiting, and acid reflux such as Compazine and Reglan. The drugs have in common an ability to block dopamine receptors in the brain. In effect, they cause Parkinson symptoms by making the receptors unavailable to the brain's own dopamine. ALL ANSWERS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED, IN ANY FORUM AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS ONE. - MANY ANSWERS ARE FLAWED. The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. I add a link with details of vaccines and Parkinson’s symptoms - http://www.straight.com/article/ vaccines-show-sinister-side However, these are the results of tests in mice, which may not necessarily be the case with humans, I add another link with details of this http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2008/05/080514124110.htm Hope this helps matador 89