75% of College Students Report Risk Factors for Hepatitis C

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Source: American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Released: Wed

18-Oct-2006, 12:00 ET

Embargo expired: Mon 23-Oct-2006, 00:00 ET Printer-friendly Version

75% of College Students Report Risk Factors for Hepatitis C

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Medical News Keywords

HEPATITIS C, COLLEGE STUDENTS, GASTROENTEROLOGY

Description

College undergraduates in the United States do not recognize the magnitude

of their risk behaviors for contracting Hepatitis C, according to a survey

conducted at a large midwestern university. Researchers found that 75

percent of undergraduates in this study had a potential Hepatitis C risk

factor, from tattoos to sharing body jewelry.

Newswise — College undergraduates in the United States do not recognize the

magnitude of their risk behaviors for contracting Hepatitis C, according to

a survey conducted at a large midwestern university. Researchers found that

75 percent of undergraduates in this study had a potential Hepatitis C risk

factor, from tattoos to sharing body jewelry. Results of this study were

presented at the 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of

Gastroenterology in Las Vegas.

Researchers surveyed 610 college undergraduates on their knowledge of

Hepatitis C and their personal experience with traditional (intravenous drug

use, blood transfusions) and novel risk factors (sharing of body jewelry,

tattoos). Twenty-seven percent didn’t know Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) could be

spread through intravenous drug use, while 77 percent of students were

unaware HCV could be transmitted by intranasal cocaine use. Furthermore, 53

percent of students reported sharing pierced jewelry.

“We were surprised by the proportion of undergraduates who were

inadvertently putting themselves at risk for Hepatitis C,” says

Shehab, M.D. of St. ph Mercy Health System and Huron Gastro. “In

addition to well documented traditional risk factors, we are concerned about

students who may be putting themselves at risk for this serious disease with

even something as simple as sharing pierced body jewelry.“

One of the other concerning findings was the low frequency that the

undergraduates were asked about viral hepatitis/HIV risk factors when seen

by their primary care providers. “The majority of the group had been to the

physician for a health care maintenance examination in the last three years,

but during that visit most had never been asked about behaviors that put

them at risk for serious infection,” says Dr. Shehab. Given the prevalence

of these behaviors, researchers say further study should focus on this

high-risk age group.

About Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The

infection is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. HCV

can be spread through contaminated needles, unsterilized tattoo or body

piercing equipment, and shared toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers or other

hygiene items that have HCV-infected blood on them. There is no vaccine

against HCV. Serious complications include chronic liver disease, cirrhosis,

and liver cancer.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524382/

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