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• 2017 Commemoration of National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV & Hepatitis Awareness (NAIRHHA) Day

  … effectiveness research question that could become the basis of a research funding proposal to submit to PCORI or other health research funders. For more info: https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2017/tulumbe-project-tier-ii Overall, NAIRHHA Day provides a means for organizations, providers, communities, families, and individuals to: Raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and viral Hepatitis to eliminate stigma Learn about ways to protect against HIV, viral Hepatitis and other related diseases Take control by encouraging screenings and treatment, including viral Hepatitis vaccination Advocate for policies and practices that promote healthy African immigrant communities, families, and individuals Recognizing September 9th as National African Immigrant & Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day (NAIRHHA Day) is an important step to addressing issues of HIV and viral hepatitis in the African immigrant community in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way. We are asking you to speak out and support federally recognizing NAIRHHA Day on Sept. 9th by contacting: your local health departments local and national HIV and hepatitis organizations the HIV.gov Team at @HIVGov Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NAIRHHA Twitter: @NAIRHHADay

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/2017-commemoration-national-african-immigrant-refugee-hiv-hepatitis-awareness-nairhha-day/
• Join Us for a Twitter Interview! Meet Our Storytellers and Learn Their Hepatitis B Stories

  The Hepatitis B Foundation is proud to launch its storytelling campaign, sharing the stories of people living with and affected by hepatitis B. Join the Twitter interview at 2 p.m. (EST), Tuesday, May 16, hosted by the Hepatitis B Foundation and StoryCenter. We will introduce three of our storytellers and their stories. Join the Twitter interview with the hashtag #justB and hear the poignant stories of real people living with hep B. We will be introducing Jason, Bunmi and Maureen K. Jason, was in a difficult place in his life with addiction and depression when he learned of his hepatitis B and sought treatment. Bunmi, originally from Nigeria, talks about the loss of her father to hepatitis B- related liver cancer and the unwillingness of her family to talk about his disease. Maureen’s hepatitis B journey began with the adoption of her daughter, and the struggle with disclosure with family and friends. These brave storytellers are ready to put an end to the silence surrounding hepatitis B. Below are the topics scheduled for discussion during the Twitter interview. How can you contribute to the conversation? Please support Jason, Bunmi and Maureen K. as they disclose their hepatitis B stories on social media. Consider sharing parts of your hep B story or pose a question. Join the conversation with the hashtag #justB. T1. Tell us about hepatitis B, the storytelling campaign and what the foundation hopes to achieve for those affected by hepatitis B. T2. What makes hepatitis B different from other diseases, and how do these stories highlight the challenges associated with hepatitis B? T3. We’d like to open it up to our storytellers. Please tell us about your story, and what makes hepatitis B different from other diseases. T4. How has hepatitis B affected your life? T5. What made you decide to share your hepatitis B story? Were you concerned with the stigma associated with hepatitis B? T6. Describe your experience meeting with others impacted by hepatitis B. T7. If

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/join-us-twitter-view-meet-storytellers-hear-hepatitis-b-stories-hepatitis-awareness-month/
• People Affected by Hepatitis B Share Stories of Family Secrets, Stigma and Diagnoses That Came Too Late

  Alan Wang of Berkeley, CA, describes how doctors failed to test his family for hepatitis B in his video story. In an innovative storytelling initiative, people living with chronic hepatitis B open their hearts and share their stories of family secrets, stigma and diagnoses that came too late as they confront the impact of hepatitis B on themselves and the people they love. The Hepatitis B Foundation, working with StoryCenter, has created unique video stories that share the experiences of people affected by hepatitis B, which affects one-third of the world’s population. The video stories, which debut May 1 in recognition of Hepatitis Awareness Month, are designed to raise awareness about the liver disease that affects 2 million in the U.S. There is no better way to understand the human toll hepatitis B takes than to hear directly from those affected. Most people know very little about this disease and up to 75 percent of people living with hepatitis B don’t know they’re infected. The hope is that these stories will put a human face on this infection and help improve testing, vaccination and treatment. One storytelling video, featuring former ABC 7 News anchor Alan Wang of Berkeley, CA, talks about how doctors fail to test people for hepatitis B. It was after the CEO of Newsworthy Media suffered liver damage that a doctor tested him for hepatitis B. “It was only because I (had) a medical reporter friend who connected me to a leading hepatologist that I got the attention I needed,” Wang, 49, explains in his story. After his diagnosis, he encouraged family members to be tested and his mother and siblings were also found to be infected by the disease that is easily transmitted at birth. “We were left to connect the dots because the medical profession is failing to address an epidemic that kills more than 700,000 people a year,” he explained. “It’s bad enough that hepatitis B is a silent killer with few symptoms until it’s too late. It’s also ignored

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/people-affected-hepatitis-b-share-stories-family-secrets-stigma-diagnoses-came-late/
• The Terrible Price Paid When Doctors Fail to Test and Treat Patients for Hepatitis B

  … expense of treating liver cancer, compared to running the right tests and prescribing the correct antiviral treatment today. In the U.S., about two-thirds of people living with chronic hepatitis B don't know they're infected. They don't have the money, the insurance coverage, or access to the right doctors who will test and treat them, and make sure their family members are tested and vaccinated. An estimated 20 percent of these people will die prematurely from liver disease. And today, as I listen to the news, I am afraid it’s only going to get worse.

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/terrible-price-paid-doctors-fail-test-treat-patients-hepatitis-b/
• March 1 is Zero Discrimination Day: Ending Hepatitis B Stigma Starts with Us

    By Christine Kukka Around the world, millions of people with chronic hepatitis B face wrenching discrimination that limits their dreams, education, careers, income and personal relationships. Here are examples: A Vietnamese woman working in a hotel in Dubai is found to have hepatitis B and is fired, isolated, deported and given a life-time ban on re-entering the country. A young person from the Philippines, aspiring to increase her income to support her impoverished family, is hired to work in Saipan, but her work visa is suddenly cancelled by the employment agency when it discovers she has hepatitis B. A young man from the state of Washington, who worked hard in high school to get into the Naval Academy, is summarily dismissed within days of his arrival when it's discovered he has hepatitis B. The U.S. military continues to bar people with hepatitis B from serving. All of this discrimination is unethical, unnecessary and a violation of human rights. Hepatitis B is simply not transmitted through casual contact. The stigma that persists is based on ignorance and it impacts millions around the world daily. This is why we need to recognize Zero Discrimination Day on Wednesday, March 1. Image courtesy of cooldesign at FreeDigitalPhotos.net. This day, designated by the United Nations, highlights the negative impact of discrimination and promotes tolerance, compassion and peace. Many hepatitis activist organizations, including the Hepatitis B Foundation, is using this celebration to draw attention to global hepatitis B discrimination. In the U.S., some progress has been made to eradicate the unequal treatment of people affected by chronic hepatitis B infection. In 2012, prompted in part by complaints filed by the foundation, CDC issued new regulations that clarified that hepatitis B should not, “disqualify infected persons from the practice or study of surgery, dentistry, medicine, or allied health fields.” These recommendations and a U.S. Department of

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/march-1-zero-discrimination-day-ending-hepatitis-b-stigma-starts-us/
• Pediatric outbreaks of hepatitis

  Pediatric hepatitis outbreaks in the U.S. and several European countries over the past few weeks and months have raised new concerns as a number of children have suffered liver damage (liver inflammation, or “hepatitis”) after becoming ill. These children do not have evidence of any hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis A, B, C, D or E. Instead, scientists are investigating the possibility of an adenovirus, a common childhood virus that can cause gastroenteritis and cold symptoms, as a cause. Adenoviruses have been known to cause acute hepatitis in children who are immune compromised, but they do not commonly cause hepatitis in otherwise healthy children. As clinicians and researchers continue to investigate, they will learn more about this acute hepatitis outbreak. We will keep this page updated with new information as it becomes available. To learn what is happening in your state, you can contact your state or local health department–most have information on their websites or hotlines to speak to a public health professional. If you are outside the U.S., your health minister or the WHO are good resources for more information. If you have concerns about your child's health, please contact your physician or other health care provider. If it is an emergency, dial 911 (in the U.S.). Resources for additional information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recently released a useful document, "Proactive Statement: MMWR on children with acute hepatitis and adenovirus infection in Alabama," posted here. The World Health Organization has posted useful information, "Multi-country: Acute, severe hepatitis of unknown origin in children," here. The Hepatitis B Foundation suggests a very recent article in Hepatitis magazine, posted here, as a useful summary, with valuable links, though we cannot validate or verify the information it contains.

  https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/pediatric-outbreaks-of-hepatitis/
• Resources

  The Hepatitis B Foundation, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is excited to announce the release of the first nationally available hepatitis B educational resources for African populations! These materials are part of a train-the-trainer-based model, and include a suite of resources, including a downloadable presentation on hepatitis B for educators, a printable flipchart for direct community education, and supporting fact sheets and other materials. These resources were created to address the unmet need for increased awareness and testing among African communities in the United States, who are disproportionately affected by hepatitis B.     

  https://www.hepb.org/research-and-programs/chipo/resources/
• Janet and Kurt's Story

  Kurt and Janet had tried to adopt for 5 years when they received a placement of a baby whose mother was hepatitis B positive. Unsure of what that meant for them and the baby they hoped to adopt, they contacted the Hepatitis B Foundation. Through the Foundation, they learned how their daughter could be protected from the disease with a birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.  

  https://www.hepb.org/research-and-programs/patient-story-telling-project/janet-and-kurts-story/
• Hepatitis B and School

  As more states require the hepatitis B vaccine for school entry, parents are increasingly asking whether they need to inform the school of their child's diagnosis. This is a gray area where parents must use their personal discretion since there is no perfect answer. Disclosing Your Child's Diagnosis If you decide to disclose your child's hepatitis B, remain calm, provide literature to reinforce the facts, and give the school a letter from your child's doctor stating that s/he is healthy and poses no risk to the other children if appropriate precautions are maintained. Most states require hepatitis B vaccination prior to school entry, so this reduces any potential risk to other students. We recommend the following when disclosing your child's hepatitis B to school officials: Stress the importance of confidentiality and universal precautions to protect your child from social discrimination. Remind school officials that hepatitis B is transmitted through exposure to blood; it is not transmitted casually. Explain that hepatitis B is not the only blood-borne disease that puts children at risk. Consider saying "Treat my child as you should treat every child - with care. You know what risk my child poses, but you don't know the risk that other children might present."  Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act (1991) is a federal law that may protect against discrimination related to chronic hepatitis B. Many states have clauses written into their AIDS disclosure laws, which may also protect persons with hepatitis B. State Hepatitis B Vaccine Laws A list of the Hepatitis B Prevention Mandates for all states is published by the Immunization Action Coalition. This site will help you find out each state's laws regarding hepatitis B vaccine requirements for daycare, elementary school, and middle school.  

  https://www.hepb.org/treatment-and-management/children-with-hepatitis-b/hepatitis-b-and-school/
• Acute vs. Chronic Hepatitis B

  A hepatitis B infection can result in either an acute infection or a chronic infection. When a person is first infected with the hepatitis B virus, it is called an "acute infection" (or a new infection). Most healthy adults that are infected do not have any symptoms and are able to get rid of the virus without any problems. Some adults are unable to get rid of the virus after six months and they are diagnosed as having a "chronic infection." A simple blood test can diagnose an acute or chronic hepatitis B infection. The risk of developing a chronic hepatitis B infection is directly related to the age at which a person is first exposed to the hepatitis B virus. The younger a person is when they are first infected, the greater the risk of developing a chronic hepatitis B infection: More than 90% of infants that are infected will develop a chronic hepatitis B infection Up to 50% of young children between 1 and 5 years who are infected will develop a chronic hepatitis B infection 5-10% of healthy adults 19 years and older who are infected will develop a chronic hepatitis B infection (that is, 90% will recover from an exposure) Most pregnant women do not know whether they are infected with hepatitis B and can unknowingly pass the virus to their newborns during childbirth. Therefore, since the risk of newborns becoming chronically infected at birth is so high, both the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all infants receive the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 12-24 hours after birth. The recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination of babies and children is so important because they are at the greatest risk of developing a chronic infection if they are not protected against the hepatitis B virus as soon as possible.    Acute Hepatitis B Infection An acute hepatitis B infection may last up to six months (with or without symptoms) and infected persons are able to pass the virus to others during this time. A simple blood test can let a person know if the hepatitis B virus is in their blood or if they have successfully gotten rid of the virus. The doctor should periodically test your blood over the six-month period to monitor the health of your liver and check progress towards recovery. In a person who has recovered from an acute hepatitis B infection, a blood test taken six-months after initial diagnosis will show that there is no more hepatitis B virus in your blood. Being diagnosed with acute hepatitis B can be difficult. As you move through the initial six-month period, there are tips and strategies to help. Until your health care provider confirms that the blood test shows that there is no more hepatitis B virus in your blood, it is important to protect others from a possible infection. It is also important to have your sexual partner(s) and family members (or those you live in close household contact) get tested for hepatitis B. If they have not been infected – and have not received the hepatitis B vaccine – then they should also start the hepatitis B vaccine series.    Symptoms of an acute infection may include loss of appetite, joint and muscle pain, low-grade fever, and possible stomach pain. Although most people do not experience symptoms, they can appear 60-150 days after infection, with the average being 90 days or 3 months. Some people may experience more severe symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), or a bloated stomach that may cause them to see a health care provider. If treatment for an acute hepatitis B infection is required, a person may be hospitalized for general support. Rest and managing symptoms are the primary goals of this medical care. A rare, life-threatening condition called “fulminant hepatitis” can occur with a new acute infection and requires immediate, urgent medical attention since a person can go into sudden liver failure. Simple tips for taking care of your liver during a new infection is to avoid alcohol, stop or limit smoking, eat healthy foods, avoid greasy or fatty foods, and talk to your health care provider about your prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and ask any other questions you may have during this time. The use of vitamins and liver health supplements will likely not assist your recovery and may actually cause more harm than good to the liver.   Be sure to follow-up with your health care provider for any additional blood tests that are needed to confirm your recovery from an acute infection. Acute hepatitis B infections have few, if any, lasting effects. However, recovery from an acute infection means that while the virus is no longer in your blood, it is still living in the liver in an inactive state. You cannot infect anyone else, and you are not considered to be infected. However, the virus that is in your liver can be re-activated in the future if you take medications that suppress the immune system. This can be dangerous for the liver. Therefore, it is important that you tell all of your health care providers that you had a past hepatitis B infection. This way, if you need immune-suppressing medication, your provider can take precautions to prevent the hepatitis B virus from re-activating. This simple fact sheet can help you better understand this. You can print this fact sheet and bring it to your health care provider’s office. Chronic Hepatitis B Infection People who test positive for the hepatitis B virus for more than six months (after their first blood test result) are diagnosed as having a chronic infection. This means their immune system was not able to get rid of the hepatitis B virus and it still remains in their blood and liver. The risk of developing a chronic hepatitis B infection is also directly related to the age at which one first becomes exposed to the hepatitis B virus: 90% of infected newborns and babies  will develop a chronic hepatitis B infection Up to 50% of infected children (1-5 years) will develop a chronic hepatitis B infection 5-10% of infected adults will develop a chronic hepatitis B infection (that is, 90% will recover) Learning that you have a chronic hepatitis B infection can be very upsetting. Because most people do not have symptoms and can be diagnosed decades after their initial exposure to the hepatitis B virus, it can be a shock and a surprise to be diagnosed with a chronic hepatitis B infection. The good news is that most people with chronic hepatitis B should expect to live a long and healthy life. There are effective drug therapies that can control and even stop the hepatitis B virus from further damaging a liver. There are also promising new drugs in the research pipeline that could provide a cure in the very near future. Although the risk of developing a serious liver disease or liver cancer is higher for those living with chronic hepatitis B than those who are not infected, there are still many simple things a person can do to help reduce their risks. Schedule regular visits every six months (or at least every year) with a liver specialist or a health care provider who is knowledgeable about hepatitis B so they can monitor the health of your liver through blood tests or diagnostic imaging Talk to your health care provider about whether treatment for your chronic hepatitis B infection would be helpful in preventing serious liver disease or liver cancer. It is important to understand that not everyone is a candidate for treatment, but everyone with chronic HBV benefits from regular monitoring  Make sure that your health care provider screens you for liver cancer during your regular visits since early detection equals more treatment options and a longer life Avoid or limit alcohol and smoking since both cause a lot of stress to your liver Eat a healthy diet with lots of vegetables since fried, greasy foods are hard on your liver To learn more about other ways to protect your liver and your health click here. 

  https://www.hepb.org/what-is-hepatitis-b/what-is-hepb/acute-vs-chronic/