African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic STD's ... - Blackherbals.com
African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic STD's ... - Blackherbals.com
African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic STD's ... - Blackherbals.com
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<strong>African</strong> <strong>Traditional</strong> <strong>Herbal</strong> <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Volume 6, Issue 10 NEWSLETTER October 2011<br />
FEATURED ARTICLES<br />
Sexually Transmitted Diseases:<br />
HEPATITIS<br />
What is Hepatitis<br />
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. There are five<br />
types of hepatitis usually caused by a group of viruses,<br />
A through E. Hepatitis can also be caused by other viral<br />
infections, such as cytomegalovirus infection,<br />
infectious mononucleosis, and yellow fever. Nonviral<br />
causes of hepatitis include drugs and alcohol. Hepatitis<br />
can be chronic and long-lasting, or acute, which is<br />
newly acquired and usually lasts less than 6 months.<br />
Type A hepatitis (HAV) is contracted through analoral<br />
contact, when a person eats or drinks something<br />
contaminated with the feces or blood of someone with<br />
hepatitis A. HAV reproduces in the liver and is shed in<br />
high concentrations in feces from 2 weeks before to 1<br />
week after the beginning of clinical illness.<br />
An infected person with poor personal hygiene can<br />
contaminate food or water sources. Transmission can<br />
occur during sexual contact, especially oral-anal<br />
contact. One can also be infected by consuming<br />
contaminated raw shellfish.<br />
HAV infection does not result in chronic infection or<br />
chronic liver disease. Acute liver failure is rare, and<br />
usually occurs in older people. Approximately 33% of<br />
the U.S. population has serologic evidence of prior<br />
HAV infection. This percentage goes up to 75% in<br />
individuals over 70 years old. About 50% of those with<br />
HAV cannot identify the source of infection.<br />
Type B hepatitis (HBV) is transmitted through direct<br />
contact with infected blood, seminal fluid, vaginal<br />
secretions, saliva, and contaminated needles used for<br />
drugs, tattooing, or body-piercing. Mothers can infect<br />
their infants at birth.<br />
HBV can be acute or chronic. It is estimated that 1.25<br />
million people in the United States are chronically<br />
infected with HBV and are at increased risk for death<br />
from chronic liver disease.<br />
Type C hepatitis (HCV) is the most <strong>com</strong>mon chronic<br />
blood borne infection in the United States, infecting an<br />
estimated 2.7 million persons chronically. HCV is<br />
usually contracted through blood, blood products, or<br />
contaminated needles used for drugs, tattooing, or bodypiercing.<br />
Blood products used for transfusions and donor<br />
organs before 1992 could have been contaminated with<br />
HCV. HCV can be transmitted to a baby from an<br />
infected mother. 20% of infections are sexually<br />
transmitted, vaginally or anally, through vaginal<br />
secretions and semen, especially during situations where<br />
blood is present.<br />
75% to 85% of those infected, end up with a chronic<br />
(lasting more than 6 months) case of HCV. 70% of those<br />
infected will have chronic liver disease including such<br />
conditions as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver<br />
failure, liver cancer, and even death. Hepatitis C is the<br />
leading cause of liver transplants. It is estimated that<br />
<strong>com</strong>plications from HCV cause 10,000 American deaths<br />
annually.<br />
Type D hepatitis (HDV) occurs as a co-infection with<br />
hepatitis B, especially chronic HBV. Hepatitis D is<br />
usually transmitted through contact with contaminated<br />
blood and needles. HDV infects 5% of people with HBV<br />
that’s about 15 million people worldwide.<br />
Type E hepatitis (HEV) is most <strong>com</strong>monly transmitted<br />
in feces, through oral contact, or contaminated water.<br />
Hepatitis E is extremely rare in the USA, being more<br />
<strong>com</strong>mon in areas lacking sanitation. HEV usually occurs<br />
in persons who travel to or live in an area lacking clean<br />
water or sanitation. One can also be infected by<br />
consuming contaminated raw shellfish. Hepatitis E<br />
occurs primarily in adults. HEV infections do not occur<br />
chronically.<br />
What are the Symptoms for Hepatitis<br />
Symptoms may not be obvious, but they are similar for<br />
Continued on page 7<br />
-6- <strong>Traditional</strong> <strong>African</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> – October 2011