Mold AND Hepatitis

[Guest guest]

I recently had a patient who had certain and severe mold exposure and fatigue

and other health troubles that began upon indoor mold toxin exposure.

I almost missed the Hepatitis C because of the nice neat history. One liver

expert (hepatologist) reports not all Hepatitis B and C patients have abnormal

ALT basic liver function testing. Symptoms can be brain fog, fatigue and other

mold-like symptoms. Also, mold exposure can allow the hepatitis infection to

increase due to mold damage to the body.

Just keep in the back of your mind if you have these risk factors....

I am not an expert but here are a few thoughts:

Who is at risk of hepatitis?

Health care professions around any blood exposure--needle sticks or blood

exposure.

The most common risk factors for hepatitis C are intravenous (IV) drug use

and blood or blood product transfusions before 1992.

Other risk factors include tattooing and body piercing. Tattooing dye or needles

used in tattooing or body piercing can carry HCV-infected blood from one

customer to another if the tattoo/body piercing parlors do not use sterile

techniques or supplies.

Children of an infected mother

Other risk factors include needlestick injuries, especially among health care

workers, hemodialysis (equipment that filters blood may not be adequately

sterilized between patients), and organ transplant before 1992.

Although hepatitis is not easily spread through sexual intercourse, high-risk

sexual behavior, especially having multiple sexual partners, is associated with

an increased risk of getting hepatitis C. Spouses do not seem to be getting

infected as expected.

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Feces-contaminated water and food are the major sources of infection of

Hepatitis A

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Hepatitis D occurs only in people with hepatitis B. It is not common in the US

Hepatitis G accounts for about 9% of cases that cannot be diagnosed as hepatitis

A through E. It also occurs in about 25% of patients with hepatitis A, 32% of

those with hepatitis B, and 20% of patients with hepatitis C. Hepatitis G is

detected in between 1.5% and 3.2% of blood donors and is believed to be more

common than hepatitis C. From what is known of hepatitis G, its risk factors are

probably similar to those of hepatitis C, although incidence among patients with

multiple blood transfusions is much lower than with hepatitis C.

Autoimmune chronic hepatitis typically occurs in women between the ages of 20

and 40 who have other autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus

erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, inflammatory bowel

disease, glomerulonephritis, and hemolytic anemia.

Although heavy drinking itself is the major risk factor for alcoholic hepatitis,

genetic factors may play a role in increasing a person's risk for alcoholic

hepatitis. Women who abuse alcohol are at higher risk for alcoholic hepatitis

and cirrhosis than are men who drink heavily. High fat diets may also increase

the risk in heavy drinkers.

Severe obesity plus hypertension are the major risk factors for nonalcoholic

steatohepatitis.

Hepatitis B/C

1. Have you had a blood transfusion prior to 1992?

Yes

No

2. Currently or in the past, have you:

Experienced chronic fatigue or tiredness for which your doctor was unable

to find an explanation?

Had surgery, including oral surgery prior to 1992?

Had a Cesarean section or other obstetric or gynecological surgery prior to

1992?

Been diagnosed as HIV-positive?

Had kidney dialysis?

Had an elevated liver enzyme test (ALT)?

Been diagnosed with hepatitis B or hepatitis C?

3. Currently or in the past, have you:

Had a tattoo?

Had body piercing?

Served in the military?

Changed sex partners frequently?

Inhaled cocaine?

Been in prison?

Injected drugs, even once?

Had unprotected sex with anybody who would fit the above descriptions?

4. Do any of the previous categories apply to a member of your immediate family,

or has a member of your immediate family been diagnosed with hepatitis B or

hepatitis C?

Yes

No

5. Does your work ever put you into contact with blood, blood products, or

needles*?

Yes

No

* Examples include:

-- Armed forces

-- Health care workers

-- Emergency service workers

-- Prison service workers

-- Science laboratory personnel

-- Tattooists

-- Beauticians, barbers

-- Institution workers (nursing homes/elderly care, psychiatric hospitals,

substance abuse centers, hospice workers)

Schaller, MD

www.HopeAcademic.com