Hepatitis Foundation International - Hepatitis Living and Learning Resources, Support and Answers

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Click here to view the "Access Care Today / Hep (Liver) Wellness Counselor & Patient Medication Programs Manual"

Prepared By: Wallenberg Viernes at the University of Phoenix Hepatitis Support Network (HSN)

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Proposed Federal Funding for 2012

Legislators are considering supporting the proposed package of $588.94 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, which is an increase of $15.1 billion over FY 2011 and $3.66 billion less than the president’s request. Click here to read more about the proposed funding and budget allocations

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The January Edition of Hepatitis Alert is now available.

Click here to read more!

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Free Webinar!

Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment
of Hepatitis C

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Hepatitis Foundation International Call to Action for World Hepatitis Day: Get Tested, Get Immunized, and Help Prevent New Infections.

Hepatitis Foundation International, dedicated to liver health and the prevention of liver related diseases, urges people to get tested and immunized to help prevent new viral hepatitis infections.

“We have the power to prevent new hepatitis infections, whether hepatitis A, B or C, through immunizations, avoiding risky behaviors such as sharing needles, toothbrushes and razors, and encouraging those as risk for infection to get tested,” said Thelma King Thiel, CEO and Chairman, HFI.

Click here to read more!

Breaking News

Childhood Obesity- Thousands at Risk

Doctors in the U.K say obesity levels are now so high that children are commonly suffering signs of disease more commonly associated with alcohol abuse, meaning many will go on to develop cirrhosis, with some requiring liver transplants.

Government estimates say around 500,000 children below the age of 15 are suffering from “non alcoholic liver disease” which is caused by a build-up of fat within liver cells. Read more

Hepatitis Among Injection Drug Users

Based on a new study, 10 million injection drug users (IDUs) have hepatitis C while 1.3 million of them have hepatitis B. If left untreated, hepatitis can result in more serious problems like liver failure, cancer or cirrhosis. Countries with the largest number of IDUs who now have hepatitis C virus are China, Russia and the United States. In the U.S., the rate of Hepatitis B is 12% which is lower compared to its percentage of hepatitis C infection. Currently, the focus of the general public is on HIV transmission among IDU’s. The goal of the World Hepatitis Day events is to heighten awareness about the increasing rates of the transmission of viral hepatitis and to engage the public in efforts to treat those who are infected and to prevent new cases of these silent diseases. With decades of experience in promoting liver health education and prevention of viral hepatitis, the Hepatitis Foundation International is a recognized leader in efforts to bring viral hepatitis under control.

Acetaminophen Dosage Reduced in OTC and
Prescription Pain Killers.

Johnson & Johnson reported that it is reducing the maximum daily dose of its Extra Strength Tylenol pain reliever to lower risk of accidental overdose from acetaminophen, its active ingredient and the top cause of liver failure. Two years ago,
a panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration called for sweeping restrictions to prevent accidental fatal overdose of acetaminophen. Then in January, the FDA said it would cap the amount of acetaminophen in Vicodin, Percocet and other prescription pain killers at 325 milligrams per capsule. Excessive use of acetaminophen can cause liver damage. In the U.S., it’s blamed for about 200 fatal overdoses and sends 56,000 people to the emergency room each year.

Are You Feeding Your Heart Too Much Mayo??

What does the heart have to do with mayonnaise, grease and cheese??? A recent article by Web MD titled Do Your Heart a Favor: Avoid These Appetizers identified some good and bad choices. To help you make good choices, we’d like to connect the heart with the food you eat and your liver that processes the food (fuel) you feed it that keeps you alive and functioning 24/7. Read more

Most of us are well aware of the signs of mental confusion related to Alzheimer’s Disease. However, cirrhosis and liver failure can cause similar symptoms due to the liver’s inability to remove or process toxins ingested in food, drugs and alcohol, and those made in the body. These toxins remain in the blood and are carried to the brain where they affect cognition. Read more

An increasing number of chemicals in pesticides, aerosols, cleaning agents, waxes and lacquers and other pollutants in the environment are leading to liver damage. The liver is the primary organ in the human body that metabolizes foreign compounds such as drugs, alcohol, cigarette smoke and environmental chemicals including those on the foods we ingest. It needs your help when it is struggling with hepatitis B or C infections. Read more

The Hepatitis Foundation International (HFI) applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for its Action Plan to Prevent, Care and Treat Viral Hepatitis, a silent and underestimated public health problem. Implementation of the plan depends on government support to be effective. HFI knows of the urgency to make this action plan happen, especially the need to identify the large at-risk population of Baby Boomers of whom many are unaware of their infection. Read more

A report from the Massachusetts Department of Health showed an alarming increase in the rate of Hepatitis C Infection among young adults age 15 – 24. This was nearly double the rate between 2002 and 2009. Read more

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two new drugs; telaprevir (Incivek, Vertex) and boceprevir (Victrelis, Merck) to be used with peginterferon plus Ribavirin for the treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, thereby providing new hope for patients who are infected. Both drugs are serine protease inhibitors and cannot be used as monotherapy. Click here to read more!

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Fat accumulation in the liver in individuals who do not drink alcohol, is called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As a consequence of the on-going obesity epidemic in the U.S., fatty liver is a very common disorder with an estimated two thirds of obese adults and half of obese children having fat accumulation in the liver. Click here

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved OraSure Technologies’ OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody test, which detects hepatitis C, with a finger-stick blood sample with a whole blood sample. The test provides results in 20 minutes, expanding the flexibility and versatility of our OraQuick Rapid HCV Antibody Test. By eliminating the need for a blood draw, healthcare providers will be able to identify more individuals infected with hepatitis C and get them into care.