CDC: Test All 'Boomers' for Hepatitis C Infection

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The Choker
Posts: 485
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 12:53 pm

CDC: Test All 'Boomers' for Hepatitis C Infection

Post by The Choker » Sat May 19, 2012 6:43 am

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousD ... itis/32772

With "baby boomers" believed to account for 75% of the hepatitis C infected population in the U.S. -- the CDC is recommending that everyone ages 47 to 67 be tested for infection.

The CDC estimates that some two million Americans born from 1945 to 1965 are infected with HCV -- that's about 3% of the boomer generation. But because many years usually elapse before noticeable symptoms develop, most don't know they are infected.

The CDC said one-time HCV testing of all "baby boomers" "could identify more than 800,000 additional people with hepatitis C, prevent the costly consequences of liver cancer and other chronic liver diseases, and save more than 120,000 lives."
How much does a test cost? What is the treatment?

If you are a boomer who was not in the battlefield and has not used illegal injected drugs do you want to be tested after reading the article?

Thanks!
T.C.

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jlmoorekcmo
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Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:47 am

Re: CDC: Test All 'Boomers' for Hepatitis C Infection

Post by jlmoorekcmo » Sat May 19, 2012 8:59 am

While the test is probably not that expensive, the treatment is $1000.00 dollars a day IV Interferon. My sister-in-law went through it about 5 yrs ago, almost didn't make it. I also lost a friend almost exactly a year ago too it.
Sister had not been an IV drug user, friend had a history of hard drinking & drug use until about 10yrs ago.
It is fairly easily passed & back years ago was considered more of a health threat (especially to health care workers) than AIDS, but Hep C unlike AIDS does not have an advocacy group.

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