Hepatitis (like AIDS ) is one of
the major risks for people consuming
drugs by intravenous injections.
Definition
Hepatitis is a liver inflammation with can be due to a viral infection,
but also to toxic products (alcohol, solvents,
...).
Hepatitis is a transmissible infection, among others by blood transfusion
(rather common in the '80 and the '90s), by exchange or multiple use of
material (syringues, sniffing straws, medical instruments for screening
such a colonoscopy...) and by the sexual act when not protected.
Different hepatitis types (see main
hepatitis transmission ways)
- "A" and "E" Hepatitis
: These are acute illnesses, that can be treated,
- "B" Hepatitis : It becomes seldom
chronic,
- "C" Hepatitis : It often becoms
chronic, the virus does not disappear and the illness persists,
- "D" Hepatitis : It exists only
when the VHB ( " B" hepatitis'virus) is presnet, and is very
likely to become chronic.
The sharing of syringes produces many infections by the "D"
hepatitis's virus, which is the cause of a number of fulminating hepatitis
and can make chronic hepatitis worsen when the subject has already got
AIDS or VHB.
Prevention
- Screening : in cases of risk (unprotected
sexual acts, injection or sniffing material sharing...), a simple blood
analysis can detect the presence of a hepatitis virus.
Provided the infection is discovered early enough and with the help
of a physician, efficient treatments can be prescribed that will prevent
the installation of the virus and may heal "C" hepatitis.
- Vaccine : despite some controversy about
its effectiveness, vaccination can prevent the "B" hepatitis.
Furthermore, screening can be performed and medical assistance provided
in order to avoid, in some cases, liver degradation.
Recovery
Treatments exist in case of chronic hepatitis, even if tehy cannot always
lead to a complete heal.
To get more information
HEPATITIS