World Hepatitis Day: A Global Day For Local Impact in Boulder
What Boulder Seniors Should Know About World Hepatitis Day
What is World Hepatitis Day?
“With so many ‘world days’ populating our calendars, many people remain sceptical about the impact of global awareness dates. However, World Hepatitis Day (WHD) proves the sceptics wrong. In ten short years, WHD has evolved and exceeded all expectations: from the first community-led World Hepatitis Day in 2008, supported by patient groups from around 47 countries, to today where millions of supporters in almost every country in the world celebrate the day with awareness activities, testing drives and countless other events. WHD has become a global day of action which unites policymakers, medical professionals and patients to raise awareness of the huge burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change in disease prevention and access to testing, treatment and care.” Source: http://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/sites/default/files/whd-resources/wha_strategic_plan_2018-2020_final.pdf
In a study of patients who acquired infection during transfusion, those aged 50 years or older at the time of infection developed hepatocellular carcinoma in 15 years (mean) vs 32 years among those who were younger than 50 years at the time of infection.
As older adults age, aging-related mechanisms that have been postulated to increase the risk of liver disease outcomes in the setting of HCV infection include a greater vulnerability to environmental factors, such as oxidative stress, with increasing age; reduction in the rate of hepatic flow; reduced mitochondrial capacity, and impaired immunity. In this study of older adults do show signs of increased sickness and rate of “HCV infection as a chronic inflammatory process leading to not only hepatic inflammation but also persistent systemic inflammation, which has been associated with outcomes that are also common with aging.” Quoted from HCV in Older Adults
Case study found here. In addition to a greater risk for liver cancers in older adults, a study of adults ≥65 years linked HCV infection to increased risk for intrahepatic bile duct cancer, anal cancer. As such as a caregiver learn the disease transmission facts and educate your clients today to reduce the risk of transmission.
Disease Transmission
Hepatitis A and E are transmitted when fecal material from an infected person is accidentally ingested by another person, through food, water, or contaminated hands or objects.
Hepatitis B and C viruses are in the blood of infected persons. These infections can be transmitted when the blood enters another person through a fresh cut, wound, puncture, or mucous membrane. Hepatitis B can also be sexually transmitted. Hepatitis D (Delta virus) can only be passed along with the Hepatitis B virus.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control for additional information on hepatitis A, B, and C.
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