Premium Essay

Hepatitis C Case Study

Submitted By
Words 1639
Pages 7
Global Access Now: Access to Life Saving Medication

Hepatitis C is a major global health threat that is curable; however, medication for millions around the world is difficult because of cost. The lack of testing and treatment is another major problem throughout the world. Engaging communities affected by the disease and giving them voice can improve access.

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the contamination of a person with the Hepatitis C Virus, known as HCV. Hep C is considered to be the most serious, and life threatening form of Hepatitis. In some cases Hep C can evolve rapidly and cause irreversible damage to the human liver. There are 130–150 million people living with Hep C globally and approximately 3.2 million …show more content…
Reducing the risk of exposure to the virus by testing all the donated blood, sterilized medical equipment, training health care professionals, is a way to prevent HCV. To eradicate - seek, test, treat, and cure- Hep C, we need a national and international commitment. In the book Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C, Mitchell, Abigail E. and Colvin Heather M. writes about the lack of knowledge and awareness in communities about Hepatitis. “The committee has found that knowledge and awareness about hepatitis B and hepatitis C are lacking in members of the public and, most important, in members of specific at-risk populations. Lack of knowledge and awareness about hepatitis B and hepatitis C in the community often leads to misinformation, missing of opportunities for prevention and treatment, and stigmatization of infected populations. The consequences for members of at-risk communities are important in that missing opportunities for Prevention can lead to infection of additional people with HBV and HCV. Once infected, they frequently are unaware of their infection and so run the risk of unknowingly infecting others and of not receiving appropriate medical management. Although there have been no large-scale, population based, controlled studies of community knowledge about hepatitis B and hepatitis C, all published surveys have shown that knowledge about these diseases is …show more content…
These stakeholders include, pharmaceutical industry, the biomedical research industry, the healthcare infrastructure industry, health care providers, public health professionals and patient advocacy organizations.

Global Access Now objectives includes:
1) Seeks solutions with partners to financial barriers to Hepatitis C drugs and to connect those in need to essential resources.
2) Promote a global dialogue to bring knowledge and awareness that will empower communities to take effective action to bring global access to medication and fight the epidemic.
3) Identifying and advocate for research to close research gaps in cures for hepatitis C.
4) Identifying and advocate research that address racial and ethnic disparities associated with Hepatitis C.
5) Promote development of health care delivery systems around the world that can provide safe and effective care to those who need medical treatment for Hepatitis

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Hepatitis C Case Study

...Case study: Patient HL comes into the clinic with the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient has a history of drug abuse and possible Hepatitis C. HL is currently taking the following prescription drugs: Synthroid 100 mcg daily, Nifedipine 30 mg daily and Prednisone 10 mg daily. Diagnosis and Rational During the history and physical, she is identified as a Caucasian 26 year old female with no known allergies, that reports she is not using drugs any longer but remains promiscuous. States she is was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and stable angina two years ago without any further findings of coronary artery disease or issues, she states compliance with the medications of Synthroid and Nifedipine. She was started on Prednisone about 3 months ago for probable moderate Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBS) classed as Ulcerative colitis (UC). A pregnancy test will be performed at the office and laboratory test will be ordered to rule out the diagnosis of hepatitis C, but appears doubtful due to the lack of jaundice or any other symptoms....

Words: 597 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Hepatitis C: A Case Study

...Hepatitis C virus is responsible for over 12000 deaths per year in the United States. Hepatitis C virus is the most common reason why someone would need a liver transplant. This virus attacks the liver and can cause future issues such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. This virus is a concern because most people are unknowingly spreading it because they are often asymptomatic. According to Josiah Rich and Lynn Taylor, over 4 million people in the United States and 180 million people worldwide less than 3% are chronically affected. Hepatitis C is commonly spread through sharing of needles. The risk of transmission occurs is more likely if the person has a pre-existing virus such as HIV. According to the Center for Disease and Control (CDC) in 2013, a total of 2,138 cases of acute...

Words: 708 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Hepatitis C Case Study

...Hepatitis C (HCV) is a bloodborne virus that currently affects between 130 and 150 million people worldwide 1. Like other bloodborne infections, HCV is largely spread by needle sharing and organ/blood transplants where HCV screening is not commonly practiced. In addition, HCV transmission can also occur via unprotected sex as well as mother-to-child transmission (although it is much less common to be spread this way). While the majority of patients with acute infections show no symptoms, those who develop chronic HCV will commonly suffer fatigue, joint pain, and emotional depression and more serious, life-threatening symptoms could develop in a range of organ systems as infection persists 2. The only treatment option currently available for...

Words: 1285 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Hepatitis C Research Paper

...Hepatitis c is a blood born virus that affects the liver. The disease was discovered in 1989. The virus infects others when an infected person comes in contact with an infected person. There are several ways a person can be infected by hepatitis, sharing needles, blood transfusion, piercing, tattoos, from mother to infant, and intercourse. Hepatitis is a single stranded RNA virus that is enveloped virus.” Binding to the cell surface, HCV particles enter the cell by receptor-mediated endocytosis.” That is how the virus enters and invades, there is no known fact on where the virus originated. “There are at least six major HCV genotypes and more than 50 subtypes of HCV.” The book describes how the genotypes are categorized by different locations....

Words: 745 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Depression

...Bed to Bench ©2012 RIGLD, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases CASE PRESENTATION Depression in patients with chronic hepatitis B: an experience on individual solution- focused therapy Jinous Arvand1, Abdollah Shafiabadi2, Mohammad Reza Falsafinejad3, Nosratollah Naderi4 1 Faculty of Human Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 2 Faculty of Human Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran 3 Faculty of Human Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran 4 Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ABSTRACT Hepatitis B, as a chronic disorder that may be associated with several psychiatric disorders, such as depression, and decrease quality of life of affected patients. One of the most important consequences of psychiatric problems is reduced patient compliance with prolonged therapeutic regimens. Psychotherapy, such as solution– focused therapy, may help these patients to resolve psychiatric problems, increase quality of life and completion of therapeutic regimens. Solutionfocused therapy is effective for patients when developing effective coping responses to the stressors associated with chronic diseases. In this study, the process and effects of solution-focused therapy on depression of 2 patients with chronic hepatitis B have been described. They received solution focused therapy for 5 sessions, each session...

Words: 1737 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

How Effective Have Harm Minimisation Interventions Been in Reduction of Hepatitis C

...effective have harm reduction interventions been in reduction of Hepatitis C incidence among Injecting Drug Users in the UK? 1.0 Introduction The prevalence of Hepatitis C (HCV) internationally is largely unknown mainly due to the fact that most individuals have no symptoms in the early stages of the infection. The WHO estimates the figure at 170 million people infected with HCV and it is estimated that approximately 3-4 million people are newly infected each year . Injecting drug users (IDUs) are at greatest risk from HCV through the sharing of injecting paraphernalia. In the UK estimates from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) data has the number of people chronically infected with HCV at 216000 of which 90% are attributable to IDUs with over 40% of the IDU population being HCV antibody positive . Some estimates of numbers with HCV in the UK suggest about 500000 . In 2010, new HCV infections diagnosed in the UK was 10,381 of which there were 7384, 106, 2129, and 312 in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales respectively . There appears to be higher rate of transmission among IDU now than a decade ago; 23% compared to 12% in 2000 Although UK is classified as a low prevalence country for HCV; The HCV poses numerous challenges for public health in terms of potentially preventable mortality and morbidity. According to NICE guidance, it would cost the NHS about £1.6 billion to treat all Hepatitis C patients. The cost therefore of failing to diagnose and treat...

Words: 4151 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

Communicable Disease Hep C

...Communicable Disease-Hepatitis C Shrunda Young HCS/457 March 25, 2015 Dr. Janice Chilton Communicable Disease-Hepatitis C Hepatitis C is a communicable disease that is a contagious liver infection. In 1989, hepatitis C virus was discovered. Previously, it was related with blood transfusion and was called non-A and non-B hepatitis because virus was not identified. Hepatitis C disease varies from one person to another. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread through contact with blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C can be “acute” or chronic”. Identify the environment factor related to this disease. People that contract the Hepatitis C virus age range are from 18-72 years old. Patient exposed to Hepatitis C virus used injectable drugs, body piercing, shared razors and toothbrushes, occupation exposure such as needle stick, and exposure to major amount of blood such as from working in an emergency room or administering first aid. Hepatitis C can be contracted through sexual intercourse and oral. In many case studies, people that have Hepatitis C tends accelerate the disease by smoking cigarettes marijuana and alcohol. This tend to be a threat in the environment by reducing the rate Explain the influences of lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and disease management. The influence of lifestyle, socioeconomic status and disease management with hepatitis c is watching diet and alcohol consumption. Alcohol with people with Hepatitis is very dangerous due to it affecting...

Words: 976 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Communicable Disease Hep C

...Communicable Disease-Hepatitis C Shrunda Young HCS/457 March 25, 2015 Dr. Janice Chilton Communicable Disease-Hepatitis C Hepatitis C is a communicable disease that is a contagious liver infection. In 1989, hepatitis C virus was discovered. Previously, it was related with blood transfusion and was called non-A and non-B hepatitis because virus was not identified. Hepatitis C disease varies from one person to another. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread through contact with blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C can be “acute” or chronic”. Identify the environment factor related to this disease. People that contract the Hepatitis C virus age range are from 18-72 years old. Patient exposed to Hepatitis C virus used injectable drugs, body piercing, shared razors and toothbrushes, occupation exposure such as needle stick, and exposure to major amount of blood such as from working in an emergency room or administering first aid. Hepatitis C can be contracted through sexual intercourse and oral. In many case studies, people that have Hepatitis C tends accelerate the disease by smoking cigarettes marijuana and alcohol. This tend to be a threat in the environment by reducing the rate Explain the influences of lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and disease management. The influence of lifestyle, socioeconomic status and disease management with hepatitis c is watching diet and alcohol consumption. Alcohol with people with Hepatitis is very dangerous due to it affecting...

Words: 976 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Your Liver and Hepatitis

...Your Liver and Hepatitis. The Liver Facts . One out of every 10 Americans is affected by liver disease. Liver disease is one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. There are more than100 liver diseases. The good news is we can help prevent the liver diseases and keep it healthy. Overview of the liver. The liver is the second largest organ in the body and is located under the cage on the right side. It weighs about three pounds and is shaped like a football that is flat on one side. The liver performs many functions in the body. It processes what you eat and drink into energy and nutrients that your body can use. The liver also removes harmful substances from your blood. Functions of the liver include: • Filters your blood • Makes proteins, including blood-clotting factors (needed to help you heal) • Stores vitamins, sugars, fats, and other nutrients • Helps regulate hormones • Releases chemicals and nutrients into the body when needed • Makes bile needed for digesting fats Liver damage can lead to swollen, shrunken, hard, or scarred liver tissue. Such livers do not work well, and the person can get very sick, or even die, if the liver stops working altogether. Symptoms of liver disease Acute (When symptoms occur suddenly it is categorized as acute process) Tiredness or weakness Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) Fever Nausea and vomiting Dark urine or very pale colored...

Words: 1588 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Awareness on Hepatitis a

...Background of the study Hepatitis is a very significant global concern, several different viruses have been identified (Hepatitis A B C D and E), which collectively, account for the majority of viral hepatitis in humans. They afflict more than half a billion people worldwide, and are responsible for over a million deaths a year. Hepatitis-A is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the liver. Symptoms of this viral infection are not always present and this includes jaundice, stomach pain and dark color of urine. Since this virus cannot be killed, treatment consists of relieving only the symptom’s, while the body fights the infection. Ones the person is infected with the virus, they will not be infected again. The cause of Hepatitis A is a single stranded RNA virus from the family picornaviridae and genus hepatuvirus. This virus only affects human. Hepatitis-A is most commonly spread by eating, drinking or using utensils that has been contaminated with the stool of a person infected. This type of transmission is called “fecal-oral” transmission. For this reason, the virus is more easily spread in areas where there is poor sanitary condition or where good personal hygiene is not observed. According to the staff nurses interviewed at the Bontoc General Hospital, there are few cases which have been confirmed to have this disease. They believe that the common acquisition of the disease of the patients of Bontoc General Hospital is through ingestion of contaminated...

Words: 4656 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Economics

...Key Issues & Economic Pressures Impacting the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2015 Presented to: Dr. Siamack Shojai Economic Analysis 6090, William Paterson University December 15th, 2015 The pharmaceutical industry has experienced tremendous growth over the past few decades, with a substantial change in the market dynamic from a provider, healthcare plan & patient perspective. Medical advancements coupled with research & development efforts have expanded the product base in terms of a variety of new treatments across numerous therapeutic classes. As depicted in the illustration below, the total global pharmaceutical sales reached $1,057,000,000 in 2014; based on the past 10 years we can expect the forecast to show a similar increase over the next few years. IMS Health Market Prognosis, May 2015 Of all the changes visible within the pharmaceutical market, there are a few that are truly revolutionizing the market: US healthcare reform, emergence of specialty product markets, price strategy & mergers & acquisitions. The healthcare market has changed under Obama, opening healthcare coverage to more patients & bringing forth treatment & medication to a larger population. The emergence of specialty products pose an entirely new challenge to the market in terms of the doctor’s prescribing habits, healthcare plan coverage & out-of-pocket cost to the patient. This along with other economic pressures brings an entirely new perspective to pharmaceutical...

Words: 3963 - Pages: 16

Free Essay

He-Contribution-of-Herbal-Plant

...Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 8 (8), pp. 1643-1650, 20 April, 2009 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB ISSN 1684–5315 © 2009 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Medicinal plants used for the treatment of jaundice and hepatitis based on socio-economic documentation Arshad Mehmood Abbasi1, Mir Ajab Khan1, Mushtaq Ahmad1, Muhammad Zafar1*, Hamayun Khan2, Niaz Muhammad2 and Shazia Sultana1 1 Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan. 2 Department of Sociology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan. Accepted 14 November, 2008 The present study deals with socio-economic documentation of medicinal plant species against jaundice and hepatitis. A total of 30 plant species belonging to 24 families were reported by local practitioners for the treatment of jaundice and hepatitis. The most important plant species are Adiantum capillus, Boerhaavia procumbens, Equisetum debile, Carissa opaca,Cucumis sativus, Hordeum vulgare, Justacia adhatoda, Morus alba, Morus nigra, Phyllanthus emblica, Phyllanthus niruri, Plantago ovata, Prunus domestica, Punica granatum, Raphnus sativus, Rhus chinensis, Saccharum officinarum and Tamarandus indica. Key words: Medicinal plants, jaundice, hepatitis, Socio-economic documentation. INTRODUCTION From the very beginning of human existence, man has familiarized himself with plants and used them in a variety of ways throughout the ages. In search of food and to cope successfully with human suffering...

Words: 5080 - Pages: 21

Free Essay

Parloe Revocation

...Journal of Correctional Health Care http://jcx.sagepub.com/ Substance Use and Sexual Behavior Among Men Prior to Parole Revocation: Prevalence and Correlates David Wyatt Seal, Michelle Parisot and Wayne DiFranceisco J Correct Health Care published online 14 March 2012 DOI: 10.1177/1078345811435322 The online version of this article can be found at: http://jcx.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/03/12/1078345811435322 A more recent version of this article was published on - May 10, 2012 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of: National Commission on Correctional Health Care Additional services and information for Journal of Correctional Health Care can be found at: Email Alerts: http://jcx.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://jcx.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Version of Record - May 10, 2012 >> OnlineFirst Version of Record - Mar 14, 2012 What is This? Downloaded from jcx.sagepub.com by guest on January 2, 2013 Substance Use and Sexual Behavior Among Men Prior to Parole Revocation: Prevalence and Correlates David Wyatt Seal, PhD1, Michelle Parisot, MA1, and Wayne DiFranceisco, MA1 Journal of Correctional Health Care 00(0) 1-9 ª The Author(s) 2012 Reprints and permission: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1078345811435322 http://jcx.sagepub.com Abstract Men’s risk behavior during a 3-month period prior...

Words: 5058 - Pages: 21

Free Essay

Drug Use and Hepatits C Incidence

...According to an article entitled “Addressing rural area drug addiction key to reducing spread of hepatitis C” by Don Sapatkin, a Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer, new cases of hepatitis C rose one hundred and fifty percent between 2010 and 2013 nationwide, and even more in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. By far the highest rates of new cases were among teenagers and young adults who inject drugs - predominantly in rural areas. After building up a tolerance, users have begun to crush up pills and inject directly into the vein, which requires use of a much larger gauge needle, increasing the possibility of transmitting Hepatitis C. (Sapatkin, 2015) Most rural counties don't have any of the services, from testing to outreach and treatment, which are taken for granted in big cities. It was determined that the main goal is to educate those in rural areas of the effects of sharing dirty needles and also to aim to reduce addiction in the first place, but financial additions need to be made in order for this to be possible. (Sapatkin, 2015) The second article, deals with mental health both in America overall, and in Philadelphia, specifically. The article is entitled “Philadelphia succeeds without ‘asylums’”. This article attempts to show that, even though there has been a movement to attempt to bring back asylums, there is not a necessity for this because of all the programs that have been developed to help with mental illness in Philadelphia. (Evans, Jr, Matlin, Hurford, 2015) ...

Words: 532 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Conflict Between Research and Ethics Paper

...Conflict Between Research and Ethics Paper Conflict Between Research and Ethics Paper HCS/435 Katherine Rossiter September 12, 2010 Conflict Between Research and Ethics Paper  This paper will share an opinion of the conflicts that exist between medical research and ethics in the subject matter of patients with mental retardation with medical condition such as hepatitis. In this paper the discussion of patient consent, benefits to patient, society, and medical professionals; therapeutic research; and research outcomes. Also this paper will discuss the potential role of institutional compliance and ethics committees, potential responsibilities of management, and the managerial approach one might have taken if one were in a position of power. When talking about patient consent there is many different types of consent. To name a few types of consent, incapacitated, decision-making capacity, surrogate healthcare decision maker, informed consent, expressed consent, and implied consent. When dealing with incapacitated consent this means that the patient is lacking the ability to make a reasonable medical judgment. In this type of consent there would be a surrogate decision maker appointed. Also in an incapacitated patient that has come in from an accident there would be an implied consent this would mean that the hospital staff would do whatever they had to do to sustain life. Decision-making capacity is one where the patient has full knowledge of what they want to be...

Words: 1504 - Pages: 7