Hep C, Oral Thrush, Tetanus, Malaria
Hepatitis C
Cause
The biggest cause of Hepatitis C contraction is when a person comes into contact with the blood of someone who already has Hepatitis C. The most common cause of Hepatitis C via blood is through the sharing of needles and other equipment such as cotton, spoons and water that are used to inject illicit drugs.
Transmission
The Hepatitis C virus is transmitted via blood. The blood containing Hepatitis C positive must get into a person’s bloodstream before transmission can occur. Common ways that Australians have been infected with Hepatitis C include the sharing of injecting drug equipment, through blood transfusions or blood products prior to 1990, and tattoos, body piercing and skin penetration with non-sterilised equipment.
Hepatitis C is not commonly transmitted during sex and is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There is only a risk of transmission when there is potential for blood to blood contact during sex. The virus is present in menstrual blood of women who are hepatitis C positive. The risk of mother to baby transmission of hepatitis C is approximately 5%. Women with hepatitis C are encouraged to have natural births and to breastfeed unless nipples are cracked and bleeding.
Host response
Some host responses could include: * Feeling very tired; * Joint pain; * Belly pain; * Itchy skin; * Sore muscles; * Dark urine; * Yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice). Major symptoms
During the initial phase of Hepatitis C a small number of people may experience flu-like symptoms. Some people develop nausea, abdominal pain, back pain and extreme tiredness. Most people do not experience any symptoms for the first ten years or more after their initial infection. Symptoms of chronic infection can range from mild to severe and can occur continuously or in bouts.
The most common symptoms of chronic hepatitis C infection are fatigue or tiredness, lethargy, nausea and discomfort in
Cause
The biggest cause of Hepatitis C contraction is when a person comes into contact with the blood of someone who already has Hepatitis C. The most common cause of Hepatitis C via blood is through the sharing of needles and other equipment such as cotton, spoons and water that are used to inject illicit drugs.
Transmission
The Hepatitis C virus is transmitted via blood. The blood containing Hepatitis C positive must get into a person’s bloodstream before transmission can occur. Common ways that Australians have been infected with Hepatitis C include the sharing of injecting drug equipment, through blood transfusions or blood products prior to 1990, and tattoos, body piercing and skin penetration with non-sterilised equipment.
Hepatitis C is not commonly transmitted during sex and is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There is only a risk of transmission when there is potential for blood to blood contact during sex. The virus is present in menstrual blood of women who are hepatitis C positive. The risk of mother to baby transmission of hepatitis C is approximately 5%. Women with hepatitis C are encouraged to have natural births and to breastfeed unless nipples are cracked and bleeding.
Host response
Some host responses could include: * Feeling very tired; * Joint pain; * Belly pain; * Itchy skin; * Sore muscles; * Dark urine; * Yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice). Major symptoms
During the initial phase of Hepatitis C a small number of people may experience flu-like symptoms. Some people develop nausea, abdominal pain, back pain and extreme tiredness. Most people do not experience any symptoms for the first ten years or more after their initial infection. Symptoms of chronic infection can range from mild to severe and can occur continuously or in bouts.
The most common symptoms of chronic hepatitis C infection are fatigue or tiredness, lethargy, nausea and discomfort in