WHO IS AT INCREASED RISK FOR HEPATITIS C?
Unlike hepatitis A and B, hepatitis C is not preventable through vaccination. However, there are measures that a person can take to minimize her chances of acquiring HCV. In addition, many precautions may be taken by an HCV-infected person so as to reduce the likelihood of transmitting this virus to others. Prevention of HCV will be discussed in Chapter 24. Meanwhile, take note of the following categories of individuals who are at increased risk for contracting HCV. All individuals in these categories should be tested for HCV.
• People who have received a blood, or blood-product, transfusion, or an organ transplant, prior to 1992 and especially prior to 1990.
• Intravenous-drug users, past and present.
• Household members of an infected person if toothbrushes, razors or other objects that may transmit HCV have been shared.
• Hospital and other health-care facility workers, after a needle-stick or mucosal exposure to the blood of a person with HCV.
• Public-safety and emergency medical workers after a needle-stick or mucosal exposure to the blood of a person with HCV.
• People who have acquired a tattoo or who have had a body part pierced if they suspect unsterile practices.
• People who have been born to a mother infected with HCV
- The sexual partner of an HCV-positive person, if traumatic sex or bleeding due to mucosal breaks or other reasons ( such as prostatitis – an inflammation of the prostate gland with occasional bleeding) may have occurred
• Organ transplant recipients of an HCV-infected organ.
• Hemodialysis patients.
Note : Anyone with elevated liver enzymes- even those without an identifiable risk factor, should be tested for HCV.
Dr. Palmer is an internationally renowned hepatologist who has been practicing medicine since 1985. Prior to 2012, she maintained perhaps the largest medical practice devoted to liver disease in the United States. Dr. Palmer is Clinical Professor of Medicine at New York University Medical Center. Dr. Palmer graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. and was trained in hepatology (as well as medical school) at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Dr. Palmer is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and in Internal Medicine.
She has authored numerous scientific publications in the field of hepatology in such peer-reviewed journals as Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Seminars of Liver Disease, Transplantation and Archives of Internal Medicine.
She is frequently called upon by the media for her opinion on various topics related to liver disease. Dr. Palmer has appeared many times on television as a liver disease expert and has been quoted in such publications as TIME magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine, Prevention magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Newsday. She also has appeared in numerous videos and CD-Roms aimed at educating doctors and the public about hepatitis C and other liver diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis. Dr. Palmer lectures to the medical and general public on liver disease-related topics on a regular basis.
Dr. Palmer has performed numerous clinical trials on various experimental medications for the treatment of hepatitis.
Dr. Palmer is currently available for lecturing, investor and hedge-fund consultations, consultations to industry, and media interviews and appearances-- including television. For such matters, she can be contacted through hepatitismedia@gmail.com.
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