Hepatitis is on the rise, and it's alarming doctors. The problem is that many people living with the disease have no idea they're even infected.
Ryan Tran never suspected he had Hepatitis B.
"An annual exam. My primary physician notified me, said, 'Ryan you need to come in.' I was so scared. He said your liver enzymes are pretty high," said Tran.
His story is not unusual.
"About 5.3 million people in the US are estimated to have chronic Hepatitis B or C and there are estimates there are only about 10 percent of these individuals even know they're infected," said Dr. Kris Kowdley, Virginia Mason.
The problem is that symptoms don't show up until late in the disease process. That's why Kowdley recommends that certain population groups need to be screened for Hepatitis B.
"Any individual who immigrated to this country from sub-Saharan Africa or Southeast Asia or Northeast Asia and has not been proven to be vaccinated and immune is at risk and should be tested," said Kowdley.
So should their household family members. For Hepatitis C, high risk groups include anyone receiving a blood transfusion prior to 1992 or who experimented with intravenous drugs, even once.
"One of the reasons I think it's all the more imperative that we identify patients with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C is that there has never been a more promising time in terms of therapeutic options and safe and effective treatments," said Kowdley.
Thanks to medication, Tran's Hepatitis B appears to be going into remission.
"Just incredible. I don't have words to describe. It is non-detectable virus in my system. And I told my wife and my kids, 'Wow. I'm going to live for a long time,'" said Train.
Virginia Mason Hospital is part of the nationwide Hepatitis B research network.
Click on the following links for more information:
To add a comment, please register or login.