Hepatitis C Now Kills More Americans Than HIV

[Misfit]

Hepatitis C Now Kills More Americans Than HIV | SHINBOW.COM

The number of people who die from HIV-related causes each year in the U.S. is now down to about 12,700—from a peak of more than 50,000 in the mid-1990s—thanks to condom education and distribution campaigns, increased testing and improved treatments. But now a different infectious disease is quietly killing even more people than HIV is: Hepatitis C.

 

[vraiblonde]

Gay men = #winning

IV drug addicts = #losing

 

[Misfit]

Gay men = #winning

IV drug addicts = #losing

That's because gay men have learned to control what they stick in them, drug addicts have not.

 

[RPMDAD]

Over the years, have lost 2 friends to Hep. Neither one of them was gay, have no personal knowledge what they may or may not have experimented with drugs when they were younger. Both of them did not use any drugs other than possibly MJ, and alchohol when i knew them.

 

[Misfit]

Over the years, have lost 2 friends to Hep. Neither one of them was gay, have no personal knowledge what they may or may not have experimented with drugs when they were younger. Both of them did not use any drugs other than possibly MJ, and alchohol when i knew them.

I'm not a Doctor (although I have pretended to be one while hanging around the emergency room waiting to be seen) but, I thought hep was transmitted by blood, not necessarily sex, (eww) I've known people who claimed they got it from tattoo needles? So I'd guess you could get it from almost anywhere.

 

[vraiblonde]

Over the years, have lost 2 friends to Hep. Neither one of them was gay, have no personal knowledge what they may or may not have experimented with drugs when they were younger. Both of them did not use any drugs other than possibly MJ, and alchohol when i knew them.

There are three strains of hepatitis - A, B, and C. C is most commonly spread by sharing drug needles:
Hepatitis C Causes: Sharing Drug Needles, Transfusions, and More

The most common way to get hepatitis C is by sharing needles and other equipment (such as cotton, spoons, and water) used to inject illegal drugs.

Your friends probably had A or B.

 

[Hank]

Dammit! Thought this was a Pam Anderson thread...

 

[Misfit]

Dammit! Thought this was a Pam Anderson thread...

Pam has Hep C? Damn you Tommy!

 

[Katt]

Vrai... you are so off course, it's pathetic! My daughter has contracted it from a blood transfusion as a preemie baby! Get your facts straight and get educated. it's not predominantly a sexually transmitted disease. I'm disappointed in your responses.

 

[Misfit]

Vrai... you are so off course, it's pathetic! My daughter has contracted it from a blood transfusion as a preemie baby! Get your facts straight and get educated. it's not predominantly a sexually transmitted disease. I'm disappointed in your responses.

Interesting, years ago I had an inmate that swore he'd got hep from a transfusion. Now you normally didn't believe something like that because of the prison environment but maybe he was right.

 

[vraiblonde]

Vrai... you are so off course, it's pathetic! My daughter has contracted it from a blood transfusion as a preemie baby! Get your facts straight and get educated. it's not predominantly a sexually transmitted disease. I'm disappointed in your responses.

I took my information straight from WebMD. Take it up with them.

And learn to read while you're at it because I never said it was a sexually transmitted disease.

 

[kom526]

I took my information straight from WebMD. Take it up with them.

And learn to read while you're at it because I never said it was a sexually transmitted disease.

Reading isn't the issue, it's the comprehending that obviously is in low supply.

[/pathetic]

 

[Katt]

I guess if it's on the internet, then why would we need doctors?

Hep C is more complicated than just drug addicts, promiscuity and other suspicious behaviors. Tell that to my daughter (preemie with a transfusion) and while you are at it, explain to her why she got lucky and "drew the short straw". It just makes me mad when the minute ppl mention Hep C, they automatically assume it's the patient's fault and they must have done something to bring it on. Oh, and btw, most ppl with Hep C don't even know it, so maybe ppl pointing fingers should get tested themselves.

 

[Dakota]

Katt,

I think it is common to associate the prime cause with a disease, forgetting the innocent victims - like those who received blood transfusions or contracted a disease from birth (like HIV). My sympathies, Katt. How old is your daughter and how is she coping with the disease, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Katt]

Katt,

I think it is common to associate the prime cause with a disease, forgetting the innocent victims - like those who received blood transfusions or contracted a disease from birth (like HIV). My sympathies, Katt. How old is your daughter and how is she coping with the disease, if you don't mind me asking?

She is okay but has obviously been affected by the disease as her liver shows damage and bad numbers in her blood work. (too complicated to get into it here) She's 26 now and was diagnosed when she was 5 due to Childrens hosp. following up on their transfusion patients before the testing was performed on blood products. She has to deal with seeing a specialist every 6 months and has even tried the interferon treatments (chemo) to kill the virus, to no avail. IT just makes me crazy when ppl automatically assume contracting Hep C is predominately the patients fault. We don't know what the future holds, so we just live as if it'll be okay. It's sort of like not wanting to wake a sleeping giant.

No one knows what other viri are in the blood supply. If it's not named, it's not testable. that's how hep c got going. It was in the blood supply, assumed safe. So today, all blood is considered a "Hazardous Material" and should be handled that way, along with other body fluids. You never know what ppl are carrying around with them. they might look totally healthy and they are not.

Thanks for your concern. Kiss and hug your kids, sometimes we can't protect them from everything.

 

[vraiblonde]

IT just makes me crazy when ppl automatically assume contracting Hep C is predominately the patients fault.

I understand that, but that's the most prevalent means of contracting Hep C so that's the first thing people think of. If a man tells you he's HIV-pos, the first thing you will think is that he's gay. Just the way it is and I didn't mean to offend you, especially since I don't know you and wasn't aware of your personal situation.

Regardless, I'm sorry about your daughter. I know they screen now but geez, I feel for anyone who needs blood from an outside source. Like you said, you just never know what's in the supply. It's scary.

 

[Hank]

Way to go, Vrai!

 

[thatguy]

Wirelessly posted

Way to go, Vrai!

It's important to form your opinion and make comments based on prejudice

 

[pixiegirl]

There's a vaccine for one of the types. I worked in a dr's office in the late 90's and had to be vaccinated since I cleaned out the gown bins.

How come they can't figure out how to make a vaccine for all this crap?

 

[Chasey_Lane]

How come they can't figure out how to make a vaccine for all this crap?

People and companies benefit too much from disease, cancer, viruses, you name it. Just look at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer hoopla. This has been going on for YEARS and they have raised BILLIONS of dollars. You can buy pink toasters, pink KitchenAid mixers, pink curling irons, pink cups, etc. Instead of producing more pink ####, put that money to good use. You'd think they would have found a cure for cancer with all their monetary support over the years.