Hepatitis B virus infection is a viral infection that attacks the liver, the organ responsible for detoxifying our body. Once the liver is very sick, the human body becomes a landfill for toxic waste that can cause death.
The infection can be transmitted through injectable or intranasal drugs, sexual intercourse, or simply by sharing the same household with a person living with this infection.
Hepatitis B virus is highly prevalent in multiple Asian, African, and Central and South American countries. It can cause problems for young and healthy individuals. About 80% of people who contract this infection will clear the virus on their own. However, 10 to 20% of people will become chronic carriers. Being a chronic carrier of the hepatitis B virus increases the risk of liver cancer, liver cirrhosis (very stiff liver), followed by liver failure (liver failure) leading to death.
There is a highly effective vaccine to prevent this infection. The majority of people in Quebec are vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus. The vaccine provides highly effective protection. Ask one of our specialists if you are protected against the hepatitis B virus.
People already living with the hepatitis B virus must receive appropriate medical follow-up and, if necessary, start treatment. Currently, treatment is suppressive (controlling the virus) but rarely curative. There is a possibility of curative chemotherapy treatment with an effectiveness of about 50% and multiple undesirable side effects, some of which are very serious. This treatment is not recommended in Canada except in very rare exceptions.
Currently, there are multiple ongoing studies demonstrating promising results for the cure of the hepatitis B virus. Within a few years, these treatments should be available on the Canadian market.
Hepatitis C virus infection is a viral infection that attacks the liver, the organ responsible for detoxifying our body. Once the liver is very sick, the human body becomes a landfill for toxic waste that can cause death.
The hepatitis C virus is transmitted only through blood. It is transmitted mostly through injectable and intranasal drugs. Sexual transmission, although rare, could occur under certain circumstances such as ChemSex, sex under the influence of illicit drugs, accompanied by extreme sexual practices such as fisting, double penetration, penetration with 'out-of-size' toys, or through violent anal or vaginal intercourse. Standard vaginal or anal intercourse is rarely considered at risk of infection with the hepatitis C virus. There have been reported cases of hepatitis C virus transmission with Poppers (the contaminated bottle touching hypervascularized nostrils).
Transmission of the hepatitis C virus occurs only through contaminated blood, never through physiological fluids or semen in the absence of contaminated blood.
Today, the treatment of hepatitis C virus has become one of the simplest of all chronic infections. To choose the molecule to treat hepatitis C virus infection, we no longer need to know the genotype, the virus subtype which we recognize as 6 designated by numbers from 1 to 6 and often accompanied by a lowercase letter 'a' or 'b'. However, we need to know the condition of the liver and the history of treatment failure or absence. In general, treatment lasts from 8 to 12 weeks, rarely 24 weeks, and offers almost absolute cure. It has little or no undesirable side effects. It is very easy to take, often just once a day. The only drawback is the extremely high cost of this treatment.
Since March 2018, the treatment has been covered by all private insurance plans and by the public health insurance plan of Quebec (RAMQ) for all people living with hepatitis C virus regardless of liver condition or comorbidities such as HIV or hepatitis B virus. Once treatment for hepatitis C virus is approved, it is very important to take it regularly and to finish it until the last tablet. The nursing team specialized in hepatitis C and the pharmacy team with expertise and experience in the treatment of this virus together with your doctor will guide you through this treatment.
The key is to get tested, know the liver condition, and choose the appropriate treatment with your experienced doctor specialized in the treatment of the hepatitis C virus.
We take care of all people living with the hepatitis C virus until they are cured. We cannot offer follow-up after the cure for people who do not require long-term follow-up due to the lack of REM (Regional Medical Manpower Programs). In short, a REM is a number that allows the doctor to bill RAMQ in a specific area. Since we are located in the Center South, we are disadvantaged. For 4 years, we have been trying to obtain REMs or REM exemptions, without success.
Our team, with years of experience in the management and treatment of viral hepatitis, offers you high-quality expertise with a multidisciplinary approach. We offer the support of a nursing team, a sexologist, and a psychologist, all specialized in viral hepatitis. The nearby pharmacy also provides specialized pharmacological support in the treatment of viral hepatitis.
The key is to get tested, know the liver condition, and choose the appropriate treatment with your experienced doctor specialized in the treatment of the hepatitis C virus.