How to get test results from the National Hepatitis C Testing Campaign

“this Hepatitis C It’s a disease for which there are no symptoms most of the time, which is why it’s so important to get tested at least once in your life,” the doctor said. Sebastian FerrettiChairman Argentine Society of Hepatology (SAHE).

under world viral hepatitis day, To commemorate Friday 28 July, awareness and testing campaigns are underway at the national level. SAHE has launched a hepatitis C testing campaign which includes free test 68 points have not been transferred before 18 provinces across the country.

These analyzes are ongoing for Buenos Aires, CABA, Catamarca, Chaco, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, La Pampa, La Rioja, Misiones, Neuquen, Rionegro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tira del Fuego and Tucumán until tomorrow Friday, although in some venues Will extend it for a few more days. You can access details of the locations through links on the SAHE website.

“Campaigns like what we have launched at the national level are a great opportunity to achieve this. If a quick and painless test is negative, the person can move on with life. On the other hand, if the test is positive and the diagnosis is subsequently confirmed Confirmed, health professionals will accompany her so that she can be cured and avoid potentially serious complications in the future,” Ferretti stressed.

The underdiagnosis rate in Argentina and around the world is worryingly high. It is estimated that 6 to 7 out of every 10 people infected with the virus in our country are unaware of the virus, reflecting the need for better testing mechanisms and continued community awareness to look after their health. The liver is just like taking care of the heart or any other organ.

“Studies to detect hepatitis B and C are simple, but unfortunately, it is not part of the routine tests required during regular check-ups with family doctors. We hepatologists, gastroenterologists and infection specialists must also be in this Make a little effort, because we are the closest people to this disease every day. We must work to spread the word among other health professionals about the importance of asking for this research, such as clinicians, cardiologists, endocrinologists, gynecologists and professionals such as geriatricians,” the doctor said. Esteban Gonzalez BalergaSAHE Vice President.

The World Health Organization has set an ambitious goal of eradicating hepatitis C worldwide by 2030, and Argentina has overcome the difficulties it faces by taking several measures to achieve this goal. The development of the Continuous Community Testing Initiative is one of the initiatives that will help make this happen.

“one person You could have hepatitis C and not realize it decades later. If you let it be, over time, unfortunately, when your liver damage has progressed to an advanced stage, you will get a diagnosis, and you may develop some degree of cirrhosis, risk of liver cancer, and need to accept transplant.All this could have been avoided by testing on time,” explains the doctor Manuel BerberoSAHE board member.

There is bias or misinformation, many people think they have not been exposed to the virus or protected by the vaccine, but Hepatitis C is not one of the vaccine-preventable hepatitis (i.e. A and B) and spread by contact contaminated blood.

This virus has been circulating for many years, but it is not well known, and in addition, there is no awareness of disinfection measures for instruments that come into contact with blood. As a result, thousands of people have unwittingly contracted hepatitis C during dental treatments, surgeries, tattoos, piercings and other cosmetic treatments, receiving blood transfusions, sharing syringes, toothbrushes, razors or sniffing illicit substances in their joints .

doctor barber Clarified that today “proper disinfection of all instruments used in every health or beauty intervention is much more common, people are more aware of the risk of exposure to other people’s blood, and thus transmission is less common than in the 80s and 90s”. Anyway, everyone though Mainly people aged 35 or over 40, Based on more or less knowledge, we may have been exposed to the virus, so testing is necessary to reassure our doubts. “

“It’s worth it go out to pick up patients Because today we have medicines that cure nearly everyone in a few weeks, with few side effects, and are covered by Social Security, prepaid, and the state. Therefore, if it is diagnosed before the disease develops, it can be cured in time and avoid life-threatening. “The doctor said. Ferretti.

Another key aspect of this disease is that a significant proportion of patients who have been diagnosed for years or decades have not yet returned to a medical professional for a cure because But neglected that there are medicines to cure, Because you remember severe side effects from previous medications, because you believe you will have to pay for your current treatment out of pocket, because you have put off your health due to other priorities, or simply because you have not cared for years because of this disease There were no symptoms or symptoms, and it hurt, the pros said.

“In response to this situation, reintroduction operations are being implemented in several hospitals across our country, a successful international strategy that includes reviewing archived medical records and summoning those hepatitis C patients who have not yet returned for care so they can be seen in a timely manner.” May Do it and it will be cured very quickly”, explained the doctor Gonzalez Balega.

Another recommendation also includes finding patients in high-risk communities, not discriminating, but using statistics of higher incidence worldwide, in groups such as veterans, prison populations, people living with HIV, dialysis patients or patients receiving blood transfusions Find patients. And blood products, such as hemophiliacs, etc.

They concluded: “Those of us who have been unable to provide answers for people with hepatitis C for decades, today we do our best to find more patients because the cure is a reality, within reach and can truly change their lives” Sacher .

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