{"id":10714,"date":"2014-05-17T17:13:22","date_gmt":"2014-05-17T09:13:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=10714"},"modified":"2014-06-12T12:56:34","modified_gmt":"2014-06-12T04:56:34","slug":"high-prevalence-of-chronic-hepatitis-b-silent-disease-and-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2014\/05\/17\/high-prevalence-of-chronic-hepatitis-b-silent-disease-and-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"High Prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis B \u2013 Silent Disease and Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"hepatitis<\/a><\/p>\n

Chronic Hepatitis B is one of the most common diseases among Asians, including Filipinos. Hepatitis B\u00a0infection has a long incubation period and usually does not have any symptoms. If it is not diagnosed\u00a0early, there is a very high chance of developing life-threatening liver diseases including liver cancer. The\u00a0best way to prevent liver cancer is to get tested and monitored for Hepatitis B. Realizing that Hepatitis\u00a0B and related liver diseases are a serious health issues in Canada, the government of British Columbia\u00a0and the Vancouver-based immigrant support organization, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., collaborated to deliver the\u00a0Hepatitis B Public Education Program to raise the awareness and knowledge of this silent killer.<\/p>\n

What is Hepatitis B?<\/strong>
\nAccording to the World Health Organization, hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, with viral\u00a0infection as the most common cause of hepatitis. There are five main types of the hepatitis virus: A, B,\u00a0C, D, and E. Not only have Hepatitis B and C infected hundreds of millions of people chronically, these\u00a0two viruses are also the main causes of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Chronic Hepatitis B is very common\u00a0among Asian populations including Filipinos. According to the Hepatology Society of the Philippines,\u00a0approximately 7.3 million Filipinos are chronically infected with Hepatitis B. Although generally\u00a0uncommon in Canada, Hepatitis B infection rates approach that of Asia in areas where there are large\u00a0Asian communities, such as the British Columbia (B.C.) lower mainland. There is an estimated 60,000\u00a0Hepatitis B infected individuals in B.C. in which 70% of them are immigrants and among those, Filipino\u00a0immigrants account for about 10%.<\/p>\n

Hepatitis B transmits through contaminated blood, semen or other bodily fluids. Another common\u00a0route is from mother to infant during birth. Other routes of transmission include contaminated blood\u00a0products, unclean needles during medical procedures, and intravenous drug. Hepatitis B may also pose\u00a0a risk for health care professionals due to accidental needle injury during care for Hepatitis B infected\u00a0individuals.<\/p>\n

Acute VS Chronic Hepatitis B
\nHepatitis B attacks the liver causing either acute or chronic Hepatitis B infection.<\/p>\n

Acute Hepatitis B
\nThe virus could have already been in your body for days, months, or years before you develop any\u00a0symptoms, sickness or discomfort. Even more commonly, you will have the virus in your body without\u00a0actually having any symptoms at all. During this time, the infected individuals are highly infectious and\u00a0may unknowingly transmit the virus to others. Some of the severe symptoms during the acute hepatitis\u00a0phase include: body fatigue, tiredness, fever, vomit and yellowness of eye and skin (jaundice). Most\u00a0people require medical treatment and rest for several weeks or even months before returning to normal\u00a0life and work. If your immune system is unable to clear the virus, you will develop chronic Hepatitis B.<\/p>\n

However, condition for some of these people may turn for the worse causing hepatic failure or even\u00a0death.<\/p>\n

Chronic Hepatitis B
\nChronic Hepatitis B is the most common hepatitis and infected individuals may not have any symptoms\u00a0at all. However, chronic hepatitis B is the main risk factor for liver diseases including liver cancer. A\u00a0chronic carrier has 1-in-4 chance of developing liver diseases and liver cancer if the chronic Hepatitis\u00a0B is not monitored regularly and properly treated. Furthermore, if left untreated, an individual\u00a0with liver cancer has as low as only 10% chance of survival within the first 5 years of discovering the\u00a0cancer. Compared to non-infected individuals, a chronic hepatitis B carrier has 100 times higher\u00a0risk of developing liver cancer. Since chronic Hepatitis B have a long latency period and are often\u00a0asymptomatic, a large proportion of chronic carriers aren\u2019t even diagnosed until the liver is severely\u00a0damaged and too late for effective treatment. Taking care of your liver through vaccination, regular\u00a0monitoring and practicing of healthy behaviours save lives.<\/p>\n

Lack of Hepatitis B Awareness & Knowledge among Filipino Immigrants
\nRecognizing this devastating, yet overlooked, silent disease in our communities, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. worked\u00a0with medical experts from the University of British Columbia and was successful at advocating for better\u00a0Hepatitis B treatment policies in B.C. To further understand the needs and the depth of the Hepatitis B\u00a0issue among Asians, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., again, collaborated with the B.C. Hepatitis Program and the Division\u00a0of Gastroenterology of University of British Columbia in 2012 to conduct a Hepatitis B Awareness survey\u00a0focusing on Asian communities in B.C. More than half of the Filipinos respondents had low awareness\u00a0of the consequences of Hepatitis B infection, and were unaware that Hepatitis B was a leading cause\u00a0of liver cancer. Furthermore, roughly 40% of the Filipino immigrants have not been tested and\/or\u00a0vaccinated for Hepatitis B, suggesting a large group of the Filipino community are at risk of Hepatitis B,\u00a0as well as developing liver diseases including liver cancer. Other cultural barriers, such as stigma and\u00a0costs, have also been reported preventing members of the Filipino community from getting tested for\u00a0Hepatitis B. Finally, of those who identified themselves as Filipino and as chronic Hepatitis B carriers,\u00a073% were not being treated by their doctors. This health burden on Filipino communities is likely due to\u00a0the lack of systematic testing, vaccination, and culturally appropriate health education about Hepatitis\u00a0B.<\/p>\n

Hepatitis B Public Education program
\nRecognizing S.U.C.C.E.S.S.\u2019 previous advocacy work in Hepatitis B care and responding to the desperate\u00a0need for accessible and cultural specific education on Hepatitis B for the Filipino communities in B.C.,\u00a0the Government of British Columbia has provided funding for the Hepatitis B Public Education Program.<\/p>\n

This program aims to improve Hepatitis B awareness, knowledge, and preventative practices, specifically\u00a0the screening of Hepatitis B, as well as to provide resources to Hepatitis B infected individuals to\u00a0manage their health.<\/p>\n

By encouraging the Filipino community to take an active role in their health management and to get\u00a0tested for Hepatitis B, this project hopes to prevent people from discovering liver diseases too late when\u00a0the liver is severely damaged. Our Hepatitis B education curriculum incorporates scientifically research\u00a0based evidence and was developed following consultation with people from various ethnic populations\u00a0and medical professionals. Major themes of the curriculum are described below.<\/p>\n

1) Some of the biggest transcultural barriers preventing the public from talking about Hepatitis B\u00a0and having correct perception and knowledge of Hepatitis B and Canadian healthcare system\u00a0include: inability to communicate in English; fear of social stigma; unaware that pre-landing medical\u00a0examination does not specifically check for Hepatitis B infection or liver diseases; unaware that a\u00a0healthy lifestyle may only be masking your chronic Hepatitis B as Hepatitis B is damaging your liver\u00a0without you knowing.<\/p>\n

Since Hepatitis B does not transmit to one another through casual contact, such as hugging, shaking\u00a0hands or sharing food, Hepatitis B should not be a feared topic. It is important to keep in mind that\u00a0majority of the infected Filipinos contracted the disease at birth or in early childhood. In Canada,\u00a0as long as pregnant woman who is infected with Hepatitis B can be identified early before she gives\u00a0birth to her baby, doctors can provide preventative measures to her baby during and shortly after\u00a0birth to help prevent the baby from getting infected with Hepatitis B.<\/p>\n

2) Even if you are indeed infected, you don\u2019t have to panic. In fact, more than 80% of people were\u00a0tested for Hepatitis B because their family doctors, family members, and friends recommended\u00a0it. You are not alone and you do not have to deal with Hepatitis B by yourself. Several translated\u00a0materials and free vaccination or treatment options are also available to those who are eligible in\u00a0B.C. Talk to your doctor about your risk of Hepatitis B and get tested for Hepatitis B.<\/p>\n

To make it easier, Dr. Jessica Chan, a family physician who is actively promoting Hepatitis B\u00a0awareness among her patients, has suggested the following three questions that you can ask your\u00a0doctor the next time you make an appointment.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Am I already a Hepatitis B carrier, and if so, what is my Hepatitis B viral load in the last 6<\/p>\n

\u2022 What is my risk of getting liver cancer, and have I had an ultrasound within the last year to<\/p>\n

\u2022 How often should I come and see the family doctor for Hepatitis B follow-up?<\/p>\n

3) Testing of Hepatitis B, such as blood test and liver scan, are fast, safe, and effective at detecting\u00a0Hepatitis B and liver diseases. Remember, Hepatitis B is preventable, treatable and manageable.<\/p>\n

You can live healthily even if you are infected with Hepatitis B.<\/p>\n

Dr. Eric Yoshida, the Head of the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of British Columbia,\u00a0has the following advice for chronic Hepatitis B carriers:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Talk to your doctor about Hepatitis B and visit your doctor regularly to monitor your disease<\/p>\n

\u2022 Follow your doctor\u2019s advice on treatment and management.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Adhere to your treatment if you are given medication.<\/p>\n

4) If someone is suspected to have Hepatitis B, family members and friends should be supportive and\u00a0should not be afraid or ashamed to talk Hepatitis B. Mostly important, they should also get tested\u00a0for Hepatitis B to prevent getting infected and to manage their own health. Even if you are not\u00a0personally infected with hepatitis B, you may know someone who is. Encourage your loved ones to\u00a0get tested for Hepatitis B because you may have just saved their lives.<\/p>\n

Free Hepatitis B education workshops are offered in Tagalog, Mandarin, Punjabi, Korean, and English\u00a0regularly throughout Greater Vancouver Region. Listed below are our upcoming workshops presented in\u00a0Tagalog and English:<\/p>\n

Saturday, May 24th
\n10:30 \u2013 11:30am<\/p>\n

Saturday, May 31st
\n10:30 \u2013 11:30am<\/p>\n

Multicultural helping House Society
\n4802 Fraser St. (corner of East 32nd\u00a0MHHS Richmond 55+ Seniors Filipino Club 2nd Floor, 6910 No. 3 Road, Richmond\u00a0(across from Richmond City Hall)<\/p>\n

To register for our free workshops or to learn more about why Hepatitis B matters to you and our\u00a0community, please visit http:\/\/HepB.successbc.ca. You can access various educational materials and\u00a0resources about Hepatitis B in Tagalog and English. Our Let\u2019s Talk section will give you an up-to-date\u00a0discussion on Hepatitis B and personal stories shared by those affected by Hepatitis B. You can also\u00a0follow us on Twitter or like our Facebook page where you can view pictures from previous Filipino\u00a0workshops.<\/p>\n

Through educating the public more about Hepatitis B, please join us in making a difference in the lives\u00a0of those around you as well as your own. Talk to your doctor and get tested for Hepatitis B. We look\u00a0forward to meeting all of you in the upcoming workshops and events.<\/p>\n

Established in 1973, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is one of the largest social service agencies in British Columbia. It\u00a0is a charitable organization providing services in settlement, language training, employment, family\u00a0and youth counseling, business and economic development, health care, housing and community\u00a0development. For more details, please visit: www.success.bc.ca<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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