Latest news with #HepatitisB
The Age
a day ago
- Health
- The Age
Horror as 1000 children to be tested for STIs. Here's what comes next
The decision to mass-test children – at testing centres across the metro area – came after Brown tested positive for an STI, according to two police sources not authorised to comment. A Health Department spokeswoman said the department would not comment on the specifics of suspected exposure to protect children's sensitive health information. A government source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said authorities wanted to rule out the possibility that the children had been exposed to infections such as syphilis given the spike in Victorian cases over the last decade. How long will parents have to wait? Dr Nisha Khot, the vice president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said parents should know their child's health status relatively quickly. Loading 'STI screening results usually only take 24 to 48 hours, depending on what test is done,' she said. Khot said Victoria's health system had the capacity to conduct the tests the Health Department is urging for the children, but that the bigger question was ongoing support for alleged victims and their families. 'The children will need appropriately qualified clinicians to assess their needs beyond the tests.' The state government has established a dedicated advice hotline to assist families with health and screening information, as well as link them to specialist services such as mental health support. Will any infections be treatable? Doctors who spoke to this masthead said most STIs could be treated with antibiotics delivered either orally or administered as an injection. Khot said the exceptions were Hepatitis B and HIV, which can be managed with other treatments but not cured. If left untreated, gonorrhea, for example, can lead to permanent health problems involving scar tissue, long-term pain and infertility. Late-stage syphilis can cause brain damage, heart disease and even blindness. But Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said on Tuesday that affected families and the broader community could be reassured that any infections as a result of this case could be treated with antibiotics. 'There's no broader public health risk to the community,' he said. A suburban GP, who declined to be named due to the sensitivities of the matter, said childcare workers at the centres and police working on the case should monitor their mood over the next few weeks and speak to family, friends or a doctor if they notice any changes.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Crime Scene Cleaners review – Warning! This show is truly vomit-inducing
It has been a while since we had a good, honest point-and-boke documentary, is it not? 'Boke', for those of you unfamiliar with the term, means to be sick. I use it here because the onomatopoeia gives a better sense of the fight that precedes the act, especially if – say – a programme is unspooling in front of you that keeps the nausea building until you are past the point of no return. Viewer discretion – and a plastic bowl – is advised. So, then, to Crime Scene Cleaners, a 10-part documentary – yes, 10! – that does exactly what it says on the tin. It follows teams from British and American companies as they move in after bodies have been removed and evidence bagged and tagged by police to clean up anything left behind. 'Anything' can mean blood – spattered, accumulated in the bottom of a bath tub, trailed along a floor, soaked into a carpet, stained into grouting, arterially sprayed along skirting boards. Hepatitis B, we are informed via a dramatic voiceover, can survive for up to seven days in dried blood, hepatitis C for up to six weeks on hard surfaces. Clever pathogens. 'Anything' can also mean faeces. 'Anything' can mean body fluids – the worst phrase in the English language – that have leaked from 'every hole in your body' during 'natural decomposition' into a mattress, perhaps, or on to the floor, if your death has gone undiscovered for long enough. They may coalesce around the legs of a bedside table and leave marks when a team shifts the furniture to start returning the house to a saleable condition. 'Anything' will almost certainly mean maggots ('they can be quite voracious'), flies and an overwhelming stench. 'I can't describe it,' says Lauren Baker, the hands-on founder of LIT Biohazard & Trauma Cleaning Specialists. 'But, once you've smelled it, you're not going to want to smell it again.' Noted. So very noted. We watch Baker and her team deal with the consequences of an unattended death in a bungalow in Kent. They are not told anything about the scene, although viewers are invited to wonder about the possibility of foul play by the attention the programme pays to a smashed window. The information that this was how the police gained access to the home is withheld until the last minute, which adds the necessary touch of manipulation without which no essentially voyeuristic documentary is complete. Baker opens the window to let the departed's spirit out – an ancient touch in a room now full of modern equipment and chemical cleaning sprays – and they get to work. In the US, life is a little different. Victor Robles, the owner of Bioclean in Los Angeles, reminisces about the time his company had to clean up a mile-long blood trail by morning. It took 60 man-hours, but they got it done. We see them take a call from a landlord to a property in which most of the blood patterns described earlier can be found. We learn that blood cannot simply be sluiced down the plughole of a bath or shower – it must be soaked up, bagged and disposed of safely. They take up the carpets quickly: 'You want to avoid saturation below floor level.' We are told that all of this was the result of an accidental injury, which the tenant survived. Americans are either a lot tougher or they come with extra blood. Over in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Larry Douglas – a former detective and now the owner of Xtreme Cleaners– muses on what life has taught him. 'In 22 year,' he says, 'I've never found an intact eyeball, because they're so fragile.' One of his teams is given a car to decontaminate. They seem to be suiting and booting up to an excessive degree – until we learn that the car was used to transport fentanyl, the synthetic opioid that is scything through the US and which is so potent that if you breathe in airborne particles of the stuff, you can overdose and die. A simple traffic stop can become fatal for an officer if they disturb the wrong goods in the boot. We see bodycam footage of them being overcome and saved by their colleagues. It is astonishing. But you live and learn, don't you? And then die, hopefully peacefully and not alone. Crime Scene Cleaners is available on Channel 4
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Crime Scene Cleaners review – Warning! This show is truly vomit-inducing
It has been a while since we had a good, honest point-and-boke documentary, is it not? 'Boke', for those of you unfamiliar with the term, means to be sick. I use it here because the onomatopoeia gives a better sense of the fight that precedes the act, especially if – say – a programme is unspooling in front of you that keeps the nausea building until you are past the point of no return. Viewer discretion – and a plastic bowl – is advised. So, then, to Crime Scene Cleaners, a 10-part documentary – yes, 10! – that does exactly what it says on the tin. It follows teams from British and American companies as they move in after bodies have been removed and evidence bagged and tagged by police to clean up anything left behind. 'Anything' can mean blood – spattered, accumulated in the bottom of a bath tub, trailed along a floor, soaked into a carpet, stained into grouting, arterially sprayed along skirting boards. Hepatitis B, we are informed via a dramatic voiceover, can survive for up to seven days in dried blood, hepatitis C for up to six weeks on hard surfaces. Clever pathogens. 'Anything' can also mean faeces. 'Anything' can mean body fluids – the worst phrase in the English language – that have leaked from 'every hole in your body' during 'natural decomposition' into a mattress, perhaps, or on to the floor, if your death has gone undiscovered for long enough. They may coalesce around the legs of a bedside table and leave marks when a team shifts the furniture to start returning the house to a saleable condition. 'Anything' will almost certainly mean maggots ('they can be quite voracious'), flies and an overwhelming stench. 'I can't describe it,' says Lauren Baker, the hands-on founder of LIT Biohazard & Trauma Cleaning Specialists. 'But, once you've smelled it, you're not going to want to smell it again.' Noted. So very noted. We watch Baker and her team deal with the consequences of an unattended death in a bungalow in Kent. They are not told anything about the scene, although viewers are invited to wonder about the possibility of foul play by the attention the programme pays to a smashed window. The information that this was how the police gained access to the home is withheld until the last minute, which adds the necessary touch of manipulation without which no essentially voyeuristic documentary is complete. Baker opens the window to let the departed's spirit out – an ancient touch in a room now full of modern equipment and chemical cleaning sprays – and they get to work. In the US, life is a little different. Victor Robles, the owner of Bioclean in Los Angeles, reminisces about the time his company had to clean up a mile-long blood trail by morning. It took 60 man-hours, but they got it done. We see them take a call from a landlord to a property in which most of the blood patterns described earlier can be found. We learn that blood cannot simply be sluiced down the plughole of a bath or shower – it must be soaked up, bagged and disposed of safely. They take up the carpets quickly: 'You want to avoid saturation below floor level.' We are told that all of this was the result of an accidental injury, which the tenant survived. Americans are either a lot tougher or they come with extra blood. Over in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Larry Douglas – a former detective and now the owner of Xtreme Cleaners– muses on what life has taught him. 'In 22 year,' he says, 'I've never found an intact eyeball, because they're so fragile.' One of his teams is given a car to decontaminate. They seem to be suiting and booting up to an excessive degree – until we learn that the car was used to transport fentanyl, the synthetic opioid that is scything through the US and which is so potent that if you breathe in airborne particles of the stuff, you can overdose and die. A simple traffic stop can become fatal for an officer if they disturb the wrong goods in the boot. We see bodycam footage of them being overcome and saved by their colleagues. It is astonishing. But you live and learn, don't you? And then die, hopefully peacefully and not alone. Crime Scene Cleaners is available on Channel 4
Euronews
2 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
Fact-checking claims WHO has just listed the pill as a carcinogen
Viral claims that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has 'just classified the pill as a group one carcinogen' are flooding TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media platform. 'The pill is now classified as a level-one carcinogen. Like tobacco. Like alcohol. Like drugs,' one TikToker claims, prompting alarm among users of the platform. Others urge their followers to stop taking the pill altogether. Euroverify has investigated these claims and found that, while the WHO's specialised cancer agency does consider some types of contraception pills to be carcinogenic to humans, the reality is much more nuanced. Certain contraceptive pills listed as carcinogens since 2005 It's not true that the WHO has 'just' classified the pill as a carcinogen, as TikTok users have claimed. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – the WHO's French-headquartered cancer agency – has included certain contraceptive pills on its list of substances 'carcinogenic to humans' since 2005. That list, known as Group 1, includes substances where 'sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity' has been demonstrated in 'studies in which chance, bias, and confounding were ruled out with reasonable confidence". There are two main types of the hormonal contraceptive pill: the combined pill, which contains the hormones oestrogen and progestogen, and the mini pill, which contains progestogen only. Only the combined pill is included on the WHO's so-called Group 1, meaning there's sufficient evidence that it can cause cancer in humans. The mini pill is currently categorised in the IARC's Group 2B, meaning it's considered "possibly carcinogenic to humans." Several studies, however, have found that both of these pills slightly increase the risk of breast cancer in women. For example, a 2023 study by Oxford University's Cancer Epidemiology Unit found that any type of hormonal contraceptive may increase the risk of breast cancer, and estimated that use of the mini pill is associated with 'a 20-30% higher risk of breast cancer". But there is also data to suggest the contraceptive pill can reduce the risk of other types of cancer, such as endometrial, colorectal and bowel cancers. It means the relationship between cancer and the contraceptive pill is much more complex than meets the eye. The pill is not considered 'as carcinogenic' as alcohol, tobacco and asbestos We detected several TikTok videos published in recent weeks claiming that the WHO considers the contraceptive pill "as carcinogenic" to humans as alcohol, tobacco and asbestos. This claim is misleading. The IARC's Group 1 includes all the substances for which there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans, such as alcohol, tobacco and asbestos, as well as processed meats, sunlight radiation and certain viruses like Hepatitis B and C. But this doesn't mean in any way that all substances on the list carry the same risk level. It simply means there is sufficient scientific evidence to support the claim that they are all carcinogenic to humans. The IARC does not classify substances according to level of carcinogenicity, but rather according to the strength of the scientific evidence to support its link to an increased risk of cancer.
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Health
- Borneo Post
Hepatitis B: A Silent illness that needs attention
Dr Lu Chee Men What Is Hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver and can cause both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) illness. A person with a chronic infection is referred to as a Hepatitis B carrier. The virus is spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids — such as during unprotected sex, sharing needles, or from mother to baby during childbirth. The younger a person is when they contract hepatitis B, the more likely they are to develop a chronic carrier state. In Malaysia, hepatitis B is considered an intermediate burden, meaning it's a significant health concern, and many people carry the virus without even knowing it. What Does It Mean to Be a Chronic Hepatitis B Carrier? If the virus remains in your body for more than six months, you are considered a chronic hepatitis B carrier. You may feel healthy and show no symptoms, but the virus could silently be causing long-term liver damage. Without regular medical follow-up, chronic hepatitis B can lead to liver cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure and liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). These complications can be life-threatening but they are preventable with proper care and monitoring. Why Is Regular Follow-up So Important? Even if you feel fine, regular follow-up is crucial to monitor liver function and viral activity, detect early signs of liver damage or cancer, determine when to start treatment and protect your loved ones from infection. By seeing your doctor every six to 12 months, you can stay ahead of the disease and reduce the risk of serious complications. What Does Follow-up Usually Involve? Blood tests – to check liver enzymes, HBV DNA levels, and overall liver function Ultrasound scan or FibroScan – to assess liver damage/scarring and to detect for early sign of liver cancer Tumour marker test (AFP) – to detect early signs of liver cancer Antiviral treatment, if necessary Routine follow-up will help doctor to decide when to start treatment and catch liver problems early — before symptoms appear. When Does Hepatitis B Need to Be Treated? Treatment for hepatitis B is not always necessary. Patient may need antiviral therapy if there is evidence of active liver damage, such as elevated liver enzymes (ALT/AST), high levels of HBV DNA (viral load), inflammation or fibrosis shown on liver biopsy or elastography and signs of cirrhosis or scarring of the liver. In addition, treatment is required if the patient is immunocompromised or undergoing chemotherapy, to prevent reactivation. A pregnant woman has a high viral load — antiviral medication (usually tenofovir) is given during the third trimester to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission Prevention Is Better Than Cure The Hepatitis B vaccine is safe, effective and provides long-term protection. In Malaysia, the vaccine is part of the National Immunization Programme (NIP) and given to all infants since 1989. However, many adults borne before that remain unvaccinated. To prevent hepatitis B, here are things that can be done: Get vaccinated if you haven't already, practice safe sex (use condoms), avoid sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes, ensure medical and dental procedures use sterilized equipment. All pregnant women should be screened for hepatitis B Last but not least, here are some of the common myths and facts about Hepatitis B You can get hepatitis B from casual contact like hugging or sharing food. Hepatitis B is not spread through casual contact. It is spread through blood and bodily fluids. If I feel fine, I don't need to see a doctor. Hepatitis B can be silent for years. Regular monitoring is essential to detect liver damage early. There is no hope if I have chronic hepatitis B. Many people live long, healthy lives with proper medical care and follow-up. Your Health Is in Your Hands Living with chronic hepatitis B is not a death sentence. Dr Lu Chee Men, Resident Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist, Internal Medicine Physician of KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital advised the public that 'With regular check-ups and monitoring, many carriers live full, healthy lives. However, ignoring the condition increases the risk of serious liver disease.' Don't wait for symptoms. Don't assume you're fine just because you feel fine. Take control — get checked, follow up, and protect your liver.
