why are we not getting more attention? 18% of Nam and Nam erea vets got it from either and, or ,our selves.yes i shot up a few times,but it only takes once.yes that was my fault and take account for that mistake.people shareing straws,snorting share microcipic blood as well and get hep c.why is aids getting more air time when hep c needs,is more prevelant.i just want the word out. and for all of you perfects it is hard to transmit this sexually
2006-11-22 10:51:04 · 7 answers · asked by gscott43206 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Hep C is not just a lifestyle disease. Some people who have it shot up, but others did "safe" things like receive life-saving blood transfusions, get tattoos or pierce each other ears.
As for being sexually transmitted, that's only if your sexual practices are so energetic that you exchange blood.
The respondant who said there now is a vaccine is uninformed. There is treatment, but it's effective in only about 50% of patients and many people can't tolerate the side effects. Other less toxic treatments are in the pipeline -- Vertex may have FDA approval on its protease inhibitors (used with lower doses of interferon) as early as 2007.
I don't know how long you've had hep C. I was diagnosed in 1998, but my blood transfusion was more than a decade earlier. There is a reason it's called a silent disease.
Why does AIDS get more money and more attention? I think it has had a better publicist.
2006-11-22 11:55:58 · answer #1 · answered by MyThought 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are not getting attention because there is negative stigma attached to this disease. Many people want no part of speaking up. The person who said this disease is not even an epidemic is ignorant of the facts; hep c is far more prevalent than HIV. Worldwide it affects huge numbers of people. In the US alone, there are 4 million infected. That number doesn't include people who are incarcerated (that number is estimated to be 40% of the prison population) or the homeless population.
I have worked with a large local support group for several years. It is difficult to get people involved in advocacy and education. Until we all speak up, we'll continue to sit here with inadequate funding, no means of treating the uninsured, and poor public knowledge of this disease. More people know about HIV because the HIV community fought to educate & bring their issues to the elected officials, who eventually funded a system of medical care, & medication to those who are infected (as well as education programs for the population). We need to learn from them, so that one day we'll have programs to help those with HCV get treatment before it's too late.
2006-11-22 22:29:29 · answer #2 · answered by cindy1323 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree. I does deserve more attention and it is starting to get more attention. I used to treat patients with Hep C. There are a lot of people out there who have had it for years and have no clue they have it. But what was much more concerning to me was the fact that the medical community was not that well educated about it, although we are getting better. More primary care doctors are asking about risk factors and testing for it. Unfortunately, there is not a vaccine for it, but there is treatment. It is a difficult treatment to go through and doesn't work for everyone, but for those it does help, it is worth it.
2006-11-22 21:10:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my Opinion, Both Deserve Attention, Hep C Infection is Obviously More Prevalent than the HIV Infection. BTW, Many people Call the HIV Infection, AIDS, Simply Not True.
2006-11-22 18:58:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because Hepatitis C is mostly only transmitted through blood, where as HIV is transmitted through all bodily fluids - and both viruses affect people differently.. I feel bad for anyone with Hepatitis C but HIV is 10x worse as to what happens to the patient- HIV does not kill you.. all the disease you get from having no immune system kills you
edit: how do you get thumbs down for fact.. this is not an opinion guys... I'm sorry for the people that have Hep C... it's a horrible disease but HIV is worse by far... not to mention HIV is a pandemic.. Hep C isn't even an epidemic- better publicist?? that's sick
2006-11-22 19:01:20 · answer #5 · answered by katjha2005 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
first of all AIDS is regard as a chronic illness rather than a killer disease with modern medication.
secondly now u can take medication to Hep C..
ask ur Dr.
2006-11-22 18:55:05 · answer #6 · answered by DrIndeed 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There a vaccine for Hepatitis C and you should urge your friends and associates to get the vaccine.
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=health&id=4108934
2006-11-22 18:55:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋