Bacterial Vaginosis
November 24, 2008 at 6:27 pm | In Tips | Leave a CommentTags: acidic, Bacterial, Bacterial Vaginosis, bath, birth, change, clinic, cream, Description, disease, doctor, family, family planning, fluids, health, healthy, infection, local, nurse, oral, panty, perfume, pregnancy, pregnant, pregnant women, premature, Prevention, products, sex, Sexual, sexual health, shampoo, she, soap, Symptoms, time, treatment, vagina, vaginal fluids, Vaginosis, woman, women
Bacterial Vaginosis
Description
Bacterial vaginosis is a poorly understood disease. It is associated with several changes in the vagina including:
- less normal healthy bacteria in the vagina (especially ones called Lactobacilli)
- the vaginal fluids, which are normally quite acidic, become less acidic
- other bacteria in the vagina increase in number.
These changes result in a change in the normal vaginal discharge.
Symptoms
There may be no symptoms, but there is usually a little soreness or irritation. Some women notice a “fishy” discharge which is worse during their period or after sex.
Treatment
When a doctor or sexual health nurse examines the vagina, there may be signs of bacterial vaginosis. A swab of the discharge from the vagina should also be taken. If there is any risk of a sexually transmitted infection, tests should be taken at the same time.
Women with any unusual vaginal discharge are advised to go to their local doctor, family planning clinic or sexual health clinic.
In some women, the changes found with bacterial vaginosis settle without treatment. Women with bacterial vaginosis should:
- avoid douching
- avoid shower gels, soaps, perfumed products and extended use of panty liners
- avoid use of antiseptic agents and shampoo in the bath.
Treatment is recommended for:
- women with an offensive discharge due to bacterial vaginosis
- pregnant women found to have bacterial vaginosis who had a premature birth with a previous pregnancy.
Bacterial vaginosis can be effectively treated with antibacterial vaginal creams or oral antibiotics.
Health Outcome
Bacterial vaginosis occurs in women who have sex, but it is not considered to be a sexually transmitted infection. The reason some women get bacterial vaginosis is not understood.
Several factors have been found to increase the likelihood of women getting bacterial vaginosis. These include:
- a recent change in sexual partner
- having had many sexual partners
- vaginal douching.
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in women between the ages of 15 and 45 years.
Bacterial vaginosis is somehow related to complications of pregnancy including premature birth. If a woman who had a premature birth with a previous pregnancy is found to have bacterial vaginosis during a subsequent pregnancy, she should be treated.
Prevention
It is not understood how bacterial vaginosis can be prevented.
Help and Assistance
For further information about bacterial vaginosis, you can talk to:
- your local doctor
- your local sexual health clinic
- your local family planning clinic.
HIV and AIDS
November 21, 2008 at 10:22 am | In HIV and AIDS | Leave a CommentTags: AIDS, and, Australia, birth, bleeding, blood, body, breast, Brisbane, clinic, condom, condoms, doctor, feeding, gums, health, Help, HIV, HIV and AIDS, HIV infection, HIV positive, Human, illnesses, Immune, Medical Unit, oral, people, person, pregnancy, Prevention, products, protect, rectal, safe sex, semen, sex, sexual contact, sexual health, Sexual Health Clinic, sexual partner, Syndrome, teeth, test, time, Transmission, treatment, unsafe sex, vaginal, vaginal fluid, virus
HIV and AIDS
Description
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that can lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). People who are infected with the virus are said to be HIV positive. Over time (usually many years), HIV affects a person’s immune system, which means the body is less able to protect itself from disease. When the immune system has been badly damaged by HIV infection, people can get sick from infection or cancers. At this stage of HIV infection, a person is said to have AIDS.
Transmission
HIV may be transmitted when blood, semen or vaginal fluid from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. This can happen through:
- unsafe sex – rectal, oral and vaginal
- sharing needles and injecting equipment contaminated with blood.
Mothers who are HIV positive can transmit the virus to their babies:
- during pregnancy
- during (a vaginal) birth
- when breast feeding.
HIV may also be transmitted through donated blood and blood products. However all blood, organs, tissues and semen donated in Australia are screened for HIV. The risk of getting HIV from these products in Australia is very low. Donating blood or body parts does not put you at risk of HIV infection.
A blood test is the only way of detecting HIV. Most people with HIV look and feel well for many years and they may not even know they are infected.
If you find out that you do have HIV, anyone you have practised unsafe behaviours with should also be offered a test. If you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about telling your current or ex-partners, the doctor and nurse will assist by contacting them. Your name is not mentioned to ensure it is a confidential process. Remember, it is very important for your partner’s health and the health of other people they have sex with.
If you think you or your partner has been at risk of infection, you can have a blood test through your local doctor or sexual health clinic. You have the right to a confidential coded test.
Treatment
Medical research has made great progress in reducing the impact of HIV infection on the immune system and managing the illnesses associated with HIV. Currently there is no cure for HIV and AIDS. There is no vaccine to prevent infection. There are antiviral treatments which keep the virus under control for long periods of time. If you are HIV positive, the outlook is constantly improving. HIV positive people should consult an HIV specialist to ensure they have access to the latest treatment and advice.
Health Outcome
Left untreated over time, HIV destroys the body’s immune system. When the damage is severe, people can develop other life-threatening illnesses. At this stage of HIV infection, a person is said to have AIDS.
Prevention
- Practise safe sex. Always using condoms when you have vaginal or anal sex is the best way to reduce your risk of getting or transmitting HIV through sexual contact. Using water-based lubricant with condoms is recommended.
- Oral sex represents only a small risk for the transmission of HIV/AIDS but may still represent a risk for the transmission of other sexually transmissible infections (STIs). To avoid the risk of transmission of HIV or STIs, if you are giving a man oral sex (his penis in your mouth), he should wear a condom. Whether you are male or female, if you put your mouth in contact with your partner’s anus or vulva while having sex, you should use a dental dam.
- If you choose not to use a condom or dam to reduce the risk of the transmission of HIV you should avoid oral sex especially if you have bleeding gums or ulcers and immediately after cleaning your teeth. Do not allow semen, vaginal fluids and menstrual blood to enter the mouth.
It can take up to three months to detect HIV in the blood through a blood test. This is called the window period.
If you have had unsafe sex or may have been exposed to HIV through sharing needles or other injecting equipment you will need to wait three months before you can be sure of a negative test result. During this time, always practice safe sex. Do not donate blood during this time.
If you or your partner have more than one sexual partner and do not use condoms, have regular sexual health checkups.
Do not have sex if you or your sexual partner has a genital sore or ulcer or a sexually transmissible infection. Other STIs enable HIV to spread more easily from person to person.
Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a treatment that may prevent HIV infection. It is a combination of anti-HIV drugs that must be taken exactly as prescribed at very specific times over a four week period. It is extremely important that a person, who may have been exposed to HIV through contact with blood or body fluids from an HIV positive person, seeks treatment as soon as possible. PEP is most effective when taken immediately after exposure to HIV, preferably within two hours but it may still be effective if taken within 72 hours (three days) of exposure.
Help and Assistance
For more information on HIV, you can talk to:
- your local doctor
- your local sexual health clinic
- the AIDS Medical Unit (Brisbane) (07 3224 5526)
- Queensland Association for Healthy Communities Inc. (listed in the phone book)
Other Resources
Accidental Needle Stick Injury in Public Places
November 19, 2008 at 8:47 pm | In Emergency | Leave a CommentTags: Accidental, advice, aid, B, bin, blood, body, C, Call, Clean, clinic, community, Description, Do, dressing, find, health, Helpline, Hepatitis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, infections potential, information, Injury, laneways, medical, medical advice, natural, Needle, parks, person, playgrounds, Practical, Public, Public Places, public toilets, setting, Sexual, Sexual Health Clinic, site, skin, Stick, syringe, Tips, toilets, treatment
Accidental Needle Stick Injury in Public Places
Description
In the community setting, a needle stick injury usually arises from the accidental puncturing of the skin by a syringe needle left in places such as in parks, playgrounds, laneways or public toilets. Sometimes, when people are walking in these public areas they accidentally step on a needle left there by somebody else. When a person suffers a needle stick injury, there is usually some anxiety and distress. This is a natural response when thoughts of potential blood borne infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and C occur. However, the risk of catching a serious infection as a result of an accidental needle stick injury is very low. This is because these viruses do not survive for long outside of the body. Most community needle stick injuries involve needles that have been discarded for some time.
Do’s
If you do accidentally get pricked by a needle:
- As soon as possible, wash the area around the puncture for at least 30 seconds, using soap and warm water. Bottled water can also be used if no hand washing facilities are available.
- Cover site with band aid or similar dressing.
- Seek medical advice immediately.
Don’ts
If you find a syringe, do not touch it. If possible, arrange to have the area guarded (particularly if there are children around) then contact your local council or the Clean Needle Helpline for advice. These services can arrange for safe disposal of the needle. (See contact details below).
If you feel able to do so, put the needle in a rigid-walled, puncture resistant container and seal or securely close the container. As an example, you could use a tin with a taped down lid. This container can be put in into an ordinary rubbish bin. If you have any concerns, again contact your local council or the Clean Needle Helpline.
Tips
Remember the risk of catching a serious infection as a result of an accidental needle stick injury is very low. This is because HIV, Hepatitis B and C viruses do not survive for long outside of the body. Most community needle stick injuries involve needles that have been discarded for some time.
Helpful Hints
In seeking medical attention, you should receive support together with advice on the possible need for HIV and/or hepatitis B/C testing, counselling, hepatitis B and tetanus vaccination and medication. In many cases, treatment of the needle mark and counselling is all that is needed. Counselling is an essential part of the support you should receive and is useful in reducing potential stress and anxiety. How much counselling you need will depend on you as an individual, for example your knowledge of disease transmission risk and level of anxiety. All treatment and enquiries are dealt with confidentially.
People often have questions about testing of blood in syringes which have caused the needle stick injury. Testing of blood in syringes is not conducted due to the inability to accurately determine the presence of viruses and due to environmental conditions such as sunlight and heat, which degrade the viruses.
Practical Advice
Treatment, reassurance, counselling and advice can be obtained from your:
- Local GP
- Hospital Emergency Department
- Sexual Health Clinic – see White pages for contacts
Call the Clean Needle Helpline on 1800 633 353 for information and advice. They also have a brochure titled, ‘What To Do If You Find Used Syringes’.
Hepatitis C
November 18, 2008 at 8:38 pm | In Hepatitis | Leave a CommentTags: bleeding, blood, bloodstream, borne, C, community, disease, doctor, drug, drug users, drugs, health, Hepatitis, Hepatitis C, Network, organisation, partner, past, people, Prevention, Queensland, Support, Transmission, treatment, users, virus
Hepatitis C
Description
Hepatitis is a disease or inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be caused by alcohol, some drugs and chemicals, and by infection. Hepatitis C is one form of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis c virus.
Hepatitis C is one of the most serious types of hepatitis. When a person is first infected with hepatitis C they may have short term symptoms known as an acute infection. After the acute infection, most people do not get rid of the virus from their body. The virus stays in their body and may cause ongoing disease of the liver. This causes long term problems and is called chronic infection. People who have chronic infection can pass the infection on to other people. They are carriers of hepatitis C.
Symptoms
Hepatitis C is usually a long-term (chronic) illness and often there are no symptoms. Only a small number of people experience short-term (acute) illness with hepatitis C.
However, some symptoms that might be experienced with acute hepatitis C include:
- yellow skin and eyeballs (jaundice)
- dark orange or tea coloured urine
- nausea
- tiredness and
- swollen and painful liver (right-hand side of abdomen).
Most people with acute hepatitis C go on to have chronic hepatitis C infection. Those who develop chronic infection are at risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. Those with chronic infection remain infectious to others.
It usually takes one to five months after contact with hepatitis C for symptoms to occur. Hepatitis C is very infectious during this period, as well as when symptoms occur. Having blood tests is the only way to tell if you are infected with the hepatitis C virus. Blood tests can also show if there is any damage to the liver. The first test is for antibodies, the second test looks for the virus itself.
Sometimes people test positive for the antibody, but negative for the virus. This means that the virus has been in their blood but is now gone. This doesn’t mean that they are immune. You can get infected again.
Transmission
Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood to blood contact from an infected person entering the bloodstream of another person.
You can get hepatitis C through:
- re-using or sharing any injecting drug equipment including needles and syringes, spoons and tourniquets
- sharing tattooing or piercing equipment
- sharing personal hygiene equipment, such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person. Hepatitis C is not transmitted by social contact or sharing items such as crockery, cutlery, shower and toilet facilities.
- having received an infected blood transfusion prior to February 1990. Since this time, all donated blood in Australia has been screened and is regarded as safe.
- poorly sterilised equipment and poor infection control used by doctors, nurses, dentists, tattooists, acupuncturists, hairdressers, body piercers, beauty therapists and others.
- occupational risks that may include any procedure which could lead to skin penetration, involving the transfer of blood between two people.
- Women with hepatitis C can pass the virus to their baby before or during birth, however the risk is less than six per cent. This risk is higher if the mother is in the acute phase of infection or is co-infected with HIV. Hepatitis C has been detected in breast milk, but levels of the virus are not thought to be high enough to pose a risk of trasmission.
- Transmission through sexual contact is low and only exists when blood to blood contact occurs during sex. Condoms and lubricant are recommended for anyone with a new sexual partner, in particular during anal sex, if a partner is menstruating or when blood exposure is possible. Condoms and lubrication are also recommended for the use of sex toys, taking care not to share these between partners.
Treatment
Your doctor will monitor your health in relation to your hepatitis C status. They may suggest you undergo treatment. Treatment outcomes for people with hepatitis C are encouraging. Meanwhile, people with hepatitis C are advised to:
- limit or avoid alcohol. People with chronic hepatitis C should seriously think about not drinking alcohol at all. Alcohol can increase the injury to the liver.
- maintain a healthy well-balanced diet
- get adequate rest.
Prevention
Because hepatitis C is a blood borne virus there are certain situations where transmission is more likely to occur. There are a number of precautions which will reduce the risk of transmission.
Injecting drug users
If you have ever injected drugs, you may have been exposed to hepatitis C. If you are currently injecting drugs, no matter how infrequently, you should never share any equipment. If you have shared equipment, you could have hepatitis C. See your doctor and have a test.
If you find out you have hepatitis C, people you have shared injecting equipment with or sexual partners where there was a possible exchange of blood, should be tested if possible. This is to see if they are infected and to prevent further spread of the infection. If you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about telling your friends, partner or partners, the doctor, nurse or health worker can contact them. This is a confidential process and your name will not be mentioned.
People who inject drugs are most at risk and should always practise the following:
- wash hands thoroughly before and after injecting
- always use sterile needles, syringes and equipment
- clear and cover the area to mix and prepare
- never share any injecting equipment, including the mix, water, tourniquets, swabs, syringes, needles, etc.
- dispose of equipment in rigid-walled, puncture-resistant, sealable containers to reduce risk of needle stick injury to others. Use Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) disposal bins instead of household waste bins where possible.
- never recap needles.
If caught unprepared consider the option of waiting to inject until you can obtain sterile equipment. However if this is not possible and as a last resort, there is no alternative to sharing, use the following procedures:
- Rinse the needle and syringe with cold water to remove any blood. Do not use hot water, as this will cause the blood to clot.
- Rinse the needle and syringe with undiluted bleach (use fresh high strength bleach, containing at least 5.25% sodium hypochlorite). The bleach needs to be in contact with the needle and syringe for at least two minutes. Repeat this process twice.
- Rinse with clean cold water repeatedly (at least six times).
Cleaning a used needle and syringe is not guaranteed to kill HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. It is strongly recommended that new sterile equipment is used every time a person injects.
Sexual Intercourse
Transmission of hepatitis C during sex is a very low risk. However safe sex is recommended particularly with casual partners or in circumstances where blood contact is more likely, such as during menstruation or when genital ulcers are present. Using condoms and water based lubricant when you have vaginal or anal sex is recommended.
When dealing with blood
There may be instances where a person comes into contact with blood. In this instance the following steps should be taken:
- Always use gloves when handling blood or body fluids. Supplies of clean gloves should be available in all households, childcare centres, schools and sporting venues
- Cover cuts and wounds with waterproof adhesive dressing
- Dispose of blood stained tissues, tampons, sanitary napkins and other dressings in a sealed plastic bag or an approved collection bin
- Wipe up blood spills using gloves and newly opened hospital strength bleach (one part bleach to nine parts water).
Help and Assistance
For more information on hepatitis C, you can talk to:
- your local doctor
- your local sexual health clinic
- your local Family Planning clinic
- your local public health unit
- Hepatitis Council Queensland
- Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN)
- Haemophilia Foundation of Queensland
The Hepatitis Council of Queensland is a community based organisation that provides information, referrals, conselling and support for people living with hepatitis C.
The Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN) is a community based organisation that provides information, education, training, referrals, counselling and support for those currently using illicit drugs, or who have used illicit drugs in the past. Support is also provided to families, friends, professionals and the wider community when they are affected by the illicit drug use of others.
The Haemophilia Foundation of Queensland is a community based organisation that provides information and support for people with inherited bleeding disorders.
Hepatitis B – sexual health contacts
November 18, 2008 at 11:34 am | In Hepatitis | Leave a CommentTags: abdomen, aches, adults, alcohol, appetite, B, blood, Blood test, chemicals, children, clinic, damage, doctor, drugs, equipment, fever, health, health care workers, health contacts, Hepatitis, Hepatitis B, hospital, infection, liver, nausea, oily foods, pain, Prevention, rest, safe, safe sex, sex workers, sexual contacts, sexual health, sexual health contacts, sexual partner, sexually transmitted infections, skin, syringes, treatment, void alcohol, vomiting, world
Hepatitis B – sexual health contacts
Description
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be caused by alcohol, some drugs and chemicals, and by infection. Hepatitis B is one form of hepatitis. It is caused by the Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B is one of the most serious types of hepatitis. Hepatitis B is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the world.
Symptoms
Most children and up to half of the adults with hepatitis B have no symptoms at the time they are first infected. They do not get sick and they do not develop the yellow colour (jaundice) associated with liver disease. Others do get sick and some are very unwell and may need to be admitted to hospital.
The early signs of infection include:
- pain in the abdomen
- nausea
- vomiting
- weakness and tiredness
- loss of appetite
- general aches and pains
- fever.
This may be followed by:
- skin and whites of the eyes start to look yellow (jaundice)
- urine may become dark in colour
- faeces (stools) can be pale-coloured.
Treatment
Blood tests can be taken to check for hepatitis B. Blood tests show if a person has had hepatitis B in the past, has an acute infection, is a carrier, or has chronic infection. Tests of the liver can also show if there is any damage to the liver.
If you find out that you have hepatitis B or you are a carrier of hepatitis B, close contacts including sexual contacts may need to be tested. This is to see if they are infected and to prevent further spread of the infection. If you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about telling your partner or partners, the doctor, nurse or health worker can contact them. This is a confidential process and your name will not be mentioned.
There is no cure for hepatitis B. People with acute hepatitis B are advised to:
- rest
- drink plenty of fluids
- avoid fatty/oily foods
- avoid alcohol
- go back to their doctor for check-ups so tests can be done to make sure the liver gets better and the infection clears.
There are treatments available for chronic hepatitis B. People with chronic hepatitis B may be referred to specialist liver doctors to discuss treatment choices.
Health Outcome
People with hepatitis B:
- must not donate blood, semen, or organs
- should inform their doctor, dentist and other relevant health workers of their hepatitis B status
- should contact their recent sexual partners and close contacts and advise them to have a sexual health check.
Prevention
There is a reliable and safe vaccine available to prevent the spread of hepatitis B.
People who should be tested for hepatitis B and vaccinated if not immune include:
- men who have sex with men
- sex workers
- injecting drug users
- health care workers
- people with hepatitis C
- childcare workers
- people with HIV
- sexual partners of people with hepatitis B
- men and women who have a lot of sexual partners
- men and women who have been sexually assaulted.
Injecting drug users should also take the following precautions:
- always use sterile needles, syringes and equipment
- never share injecting equipment
- dispose of equipment in solid, puncture proof and sealed containers to reduce risk of needle stick injury to others
- never recap needles.
Practicing safe sex means taking care not to exchange body fluids during sex. All people with more than one sexual partner (or whose partner has more than one sexual partner) are at risk of getting an STI like hepatitis B.
- Practise safe sex. Always using condoms when you have vaginal or anal sex is the best way to reduce your risk of hepatitis B. Using water-based lubricant with condoms is recommended. If you are giving a man oral sex (his penis in your mouth), then he will need to wear a condom. It does not matter whether you are male or female, if you put your mouth in contact with your partner’s anus or vulva while having sex, you will need to use a dental dam.
Help and Assistance
For more information on Hepatitis B, you can talk to:
- your local doctor
- your local sexual health clinic
- your local family planning clinic
- your local public health unit.
Hepatitis A
November 18, 2008 at 11:24 am | In Hepatitis | Leave a CommentTags: adult, adults, children, communities, control, days, disease, food, hand, health, Hepatitis, Hepatitis A, household, immunoglobulin, Indigenous, infection, nurse, nursing, oral, pain, people, protection, remote, room, rural, sex, symptom, temperature, Torres, traveller, treatment, Vaccination, virus, week
Hepatitis A
Description
Hepatitis A, also known as infectious hepatitis, is an acute infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. The seriousness of the disease can vary. Some people, especially small children, may not show any symptoms even though they may have the virus and can pass it onto others. The disease is usually more serious in adults than in children.
Symptoms
The symptoms of hepatitis A are fever, generalised aches and pains, nausea, lack of appetite and abdominal discomfort. Dark urine is usually the first specific sign of acute hepatitis A, followed a day or two later by jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) and pale coloured bowel motions.
The duration of the illness is variable, however most people feel better by the third week. Occasionally, generally in adults, it presents as a serious, disabling disease lasting several months.
There are usually no long term effects as a direct result of hepatitis A infection. Unlike hepatitis B or C, people cannot become chronic carriers of hepatitis A virus.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Management of people infected with the virus is aimed at treating the symptoms of the infection.
Health Outcome
Complications of hepatitis A are uncommon but on rare occasion can include liver failure resulting in death.
Transmission
The virus is usually spread when faeces from an infected person contaminates something which is transferred to another person’s mouth. The virus can be passed on by:
- food that has been handled by or shared with an infected person
- drinking contaminated water
- hands after touching infected faeces, nappies, linen and towels
- oral or anal sex.
The virus can survive in a dried form at room temperature for several weeks and in water for longer periods.
It usually takes about 28 to 30 days from contact with the virus until starting to feel unwell. However, it can take up to 50 days.
Infected people can pass the virus to others from about two weeks before and up to one week after the appearance of dark urine or jaundice.
Control
People with hepatitis A should not return to work, school or child care until they are no longer infectious which is at least seven days after the onset of jaundice.
Hand washing and good hygiene practices are essential and is the most effective way of reducing the spread of hepatitis A infection. Hands should be washed thoroughly in soap and water for at least 15 seconds and then dried thoroughly. It is important to wash hands after going to the toilet, touching soiled linen or articles and before preparing or eating food.
Household or child care contacts of a hepatitis A case should be given immunoglobulin for protection. Immunoglobulin is not a vaccine, but will provide short term protection if given within two weeks of contact with an infected person.
Vaccination
There is a safe and effective vaccine available for protection against hepatitis A infection.
The hepatitis A vaccine is not usually recommended for the management of contacts of cases of hepatitis A as the vaccine takes approximately two weeks to provide adequate protection against the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A vaccine can be administered at the same time as immunoglobulin if ongoing protection against hepatitis A infection is required.
The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended and provided free of charge for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, because of the high incidence of hepatitis A infection in these communities. The vaccine is given to these children at 18 months of age with a booster at two years of age.
The vaccine is also recommended (but not funded) for people at high risk of exposure to the disease, such as:
- travellers to developing countries where hepatitis A can be very common
- those working in rural and remote Indigenous communities
- child care and preschool staff
- the intellectually disabled and their carers
- health care providers – nursing and medical staff in paediatric wards, intensive care units and emergency departments that provide for substantial proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- sewage workers
- men who have sex with men
- injecting drug users
- people with chronic liver disease
- haemophiliacs who may receive pooled plasma concentrates.
Help and Assistance
For further information please contact:
- your local doctor
- Population Health Unit
- 13HEALTH (1343 2584) information line
Unique Bone Marrow Transplant Said to Cure Sickle Cell
November 17, 2008 at 10:26 pm | In News | Leave a CommentTags: Biology, blood, bone, cell, children, cure, damage, director, disease, heavy, hematologist, inherited, life, Marrow, pain, pediatric, people, program, publish, recipient, report, safety, sickle, traditional, transplant, Unique, United States
Unique Bone Marrow Transplant Said to Cure Sickle Cell
A unique form of bone marrow transplantation is the only safe and effective cure for sickle cell disease, researchers at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh report.
Traditional bone marrow transplants rely on heavy doses of chemotherapy prior to transplant in order to destroy a recipient’s bone marrow so it won’t reject the donated marrow. But that makes patients vulnerable to dangerous complications, something that’s viewed as an unnecessary risk, because sickle cell disease typically isn’t life-threatening, the researchers said.
This new transplant method relies on reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens, which are less toxic to patients and eliminate life-threatening side effects generally associated with bone marrow transplantation. This means transplants can be offered to patients with severe sickle cell disease.
The researchers at Children’s Hospital, part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, reported that six of seven sickle cell patients who received RIC bone marrow transplants in the last decade now have donor marrow and are free of sickle cell disease symptoms.
The report was published in the November issue of the journal Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.
“Bone marrow transplant is the only known cure for sickle cell disease. But doctors have avoided performing them in these patients, because complications from a traditional bone marrow transplant can be life-threatening,” Dr. Lakshmanan Krishnamurti, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist and director of the Sickle Cell Program at Children’s Hospital, said in a hospital news release. He helped develop RIC bone marrow transplants.
“Through the reduced-intensity approach we developed, the potential for complications is dramatically lessened. This study offers hope for a cure for thousands of patients with severe sickle cell disease,” Krishnamurti said.
Sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder, affects about 80,000 people in the United States, primarily blacks. The disease can cause agonizing pain, strokes, damage to internal organs, and a shortened life expectancy.
Violent video games tied to teen aggression
November 17, 2008 at 10:22 pm | In News | Leave a CommentTags: aggressive, america, conflict, create, culture, doctor, game, games, hypothesis, iowa state, japan, japanese, journal, normal, old, play, researcher, school, schools, shooter, show, state, study, teen, time, University, US, USA, Video, video game, video games, violent, weight
Violent video games tied to teen aggression
Adolescents who play violent video games may become increasingly aggressive over time, a new study of Japanese and U.S. teens suggests.
Researchers found that among three groups of 9- to 18-year-olds followed over several months, those who regularly played violent video games were more likely to get into more and more physical fights over time. The study is among the first to chart changes in gamers’ aggressive behavior over time, lending weight to evidence that violent video games can encourage violence in some kids. And it’s the first to show that the effects are seen across cultures, researchers report in the journal Pediatrics.
“Basically what we found was that in all three samples, a lot of violent video game play early in a school year leads to higher levels of aggression during the school year, as measured later in the school year — even after you control for how aggressive the kids were at the beginning of the year,” lead researcher Dr. Craig A. Anderson, of Iowa State University in Ames, explained.
An argument has been made that video games cannot be directly contributing to aggression because violence rates are low in Japan where video games are highly popular, Anderson said in a written statement.
“By gathering data from Japan,” he said, “we can test that hypothesis directly and ask, ‘Is it the case that Japanese kids are totally unaffected by playing violent video games?’ And of course, they aren’t. They’re affected pretty much the same way American kids are.
The findings are based on two separate groups of teenagers from Japan — 1,231 teens in all — and 364 9- to 12-year-olds from the U.S. At the outset, participants estimated how often they played violent video games, then their own aggressive behavior was followed for up to six months afterward.
The Japanese teens reported on their own violent behavior using questionnaires, while teachers’ and peers’ reports were used to estimate the U.S. group’s aggressive behavior.
In general, Anderson’s team found that kids who habitually played violent video games were more likely than their peers to become increasingly involved in physical fights — even when their behavior in the months leading up to the study was taken into account.
Of course, not all kids who play aggressive video games act them out in real life. Nor is media violence alone to blame for teenagers’ aggression, the researchers point out.
But what these video games may do, the investigators say, is feed the idea that violence is a normal and acceptable way to react to everyday conflicts, like getting bumped in the school hallway. “It is important to realize that violent video games do not create schools shooters,” Dr. Douglas A. Gentile, another researcher on the study, said in the statement.
“Violent games are certainly not the only thing that can increase children’s aggression,” he added, “but these studies show that they are one part of the puzzle in both America and Japan.”
Younger Men Fare Best After Hip Joint Resurfacing
November 17, 2008 at 10:18 pm | In News | Leave a CommentTags: author, best, bone, expert, fare, female, fracture, gender, health, Hip, innovation, january, Joint, journal, medical, men, News, news release, october, patient, print, researcher, structure, study, surgery, tenchnological, University, US, younger
Younger Men Fare Best After Hip Joint Resurfacing
Age and gender are important to the success of hip resurfacing, say U.S. researchers who reviewed more than 500 surgeries and found the majority of serious complications occurred in women of all ages and men over age 55.
Hip resurfacing offers an alternative to hip replacement, in which the ball of the hip joint is removed and replaced with a metal stem inserted into the thigh bone. In hip resurfacing, the ball of the hip joint remains, but its surface is reshaped to accept a rounded cap with a short stem that sits in the thigh bone, or femur.
Study lead author Dr. Craig Della Valle, a joint reconstruction specialist at Rush University Medical Center, and colleagues looked at the first 537 hip resurfacing surgeries performed in the United States using the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2006.
Serious complications occurred in 32 of the cases, including 10 cases in which the femoral neck fractured after surgery. These types of fractures, which don’t occur in hip replacements, required additional surgery.
Nine of the 10 femoral neck fractures occurred in either female patients or those older than 55. Eight of the fractures occurred in cases where the surgeon was relatively inexperienced with the procedure (10 or fewer hip resurfacing surgeries).
“Patients who are older or who are female tend to have softer bone. Also, men on average have larger bone structures, with a greater surface area for securing the implant,” Della Valle explained in a Rush University news release. Males under the age of 55 are the ideal patients for hip resurfacing, the experts said.
“Patients may be eager to take advantage of technological innovations, but for older individuals, a conventional hip replacement is generally more appropriate,” Della Valle advised.
The study was released online and was expected to be published in the January print issue of the journal Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Researc
Leukemia Drug Creates Optimism as Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis
November 17, 2008 at 10:12 pm | In Latest Updates | Leave a CommentTags: Alemtuzumab, brain, Britain, cambridge, cell, cells, depression, diseases, drug, fatigue, health, immune cell, Leukemia, million, MS, optimism, patient, people, phd, problems, scientist, sclerosis, study, tissue, treatment, University
Leukemia Drug Creates Optimism as Treatment
forMultiple Sclerosis
The drug known as Alemtuzumab, the first monoclonal antibody made for use in humans, may offer new hope in treating early Multiple Sclerosis (MS), even though it was developed and approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Alemtuzumab works by seeking out and destroying certain immune cells that, when functioning normally, protect against infection. Since is believed that MS as well as other autoimmune diseases damage these cells, the result is the destruction of healthy tissue.
Initially, Cambridge University scientists tried treating patients suffering from advanced multiple sclerosis with Alemtuzumab, but they had little success. However, patients suffering from early relapsing-remitting MS who were treated with Alemtuzumab experienced significantly fewer relapses as well as a reduced the number of episodes of fatigue and physical impairments that indicate progression of the disease when compared with those patients treated with the currently approved treatment known as interferon beta-1a.
Surprisingly, three years after entry into the study, some patients who received the experimental drug suffered from less disabilities associated with MS than they were experiencing prior to the beginning of the study. This finding offers hope that the treatment may play a role in stopping the progression of the disease and preventing victims from ever reaching its crippling late stages. According to study co-author Alasdair Coles, Ph.D., “The ability of an MS drug to promote brain repair is unprecedented.” He went on to explain, “We are witnessing a drug which, if given early enough, might effectively stop the advancement of the disease and also restore lost function by promoting repair of the damaged brain tissue.”
The success of Alemtuzumab in fighting against MS does not come with out risks. Almost one in four of the patients treated with Alemtuzumab developed thyroid complications, and the disabilities of some patients worsened. In addition, 3 percent of the patients treated with the drug developed a potentially life-threatening autoimmune condition, resulting in the loss of one of the patient’s lives.
According to Genzyme Medical Director Susan Moran, M.D., the patient who passed away during the study died from an autoimmune-mediated blood condition known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Moran said the death could have been avoided if the condition had been recognized as an adverse effect of the treatment. She stated, “Unfortunately, the patient had symptoms of ITP but did not seek medical attention prior to diagnosis because this was not recognized as an adverse event.” The five additional cases were identified and managed with treatment due to close monitoring of study patients once the risk was known.
Coles said that Phase III trials will soon begin and will determine if the benefits of Alemtuzumab outweigh the risks for MS patients. Eighty-five percent of people who are first diagnosed with MS suffer from relapsing-remitting MS according to the National MS Society. Coles noted, “The Phase II results are very exciting, but this is not ready for routine use.” He also acknowledged, “We need to know more about the long-term effectiveness and adverse effects. That is our challenge over the next few years.”
MS has no cure and affects about 400,000 people in the United States as well as almost 100,000 in Britain and millions around the world. The disease is caused by the body’s immune system attacking nerve fibers in the central nervous system. Few effective treatments exist for MS. Symptoms of the disease may include depression, fatigue, cognitive problems and loss of sight and mobility.
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