Hepatitis

[TaijiMonkey]

There is a chance that my fiancee' has a strain of Hepatitis.

 

I am trying to get the facts straight, between language and cultural barriers, and it is not easy.

 

It seems her blood work shows that she has "a liver disease" that is "not contagious" and "her liver is still very healthy".

 

I am trying to find out more.

 

Can anyone tell me how having Hepatitis will effect the K-1??

 

And what, if any difference there is between Hepatitis-A, Hepatitis-B, and Hepatitis-C... not the disease, but the effects of having each of these changes your immigration chances....

 

 

I am hopeful that it is nothig at all, but I am covering all my bases...

[hakkamike]

http://www.ailc.com/Medical_Exam.htm#inad

[SirLancelot]

There is a chance that my fiancee' has a strain of Hepatitis.

 

I am trying to get the facts straight, between language and cultural barriers, and it is not easy.

 

It seems her blood work shows that she has "a liver disease" that is "not contagious" and "her liver is still very healthy".

 

I am trying to find out more.

 

Can anyone tell me how having Hepatitis will effect the K-1??

 

And what, if any difference there is between Hepatitis-A, Hepatitis-B, and Hepatitis-C... not the disease, but the effects of having each of these changes your immigration chances....

 

 

I am hopeful that it is nothig at all, but I am covering all my bases...

 

Having Hepatitis will NOT have any effect on her getting a K-1.

[Jeikun]

She probably has Hepatitis B if any. A does not become chronic ever and is highly contageous. C isn't very common in China. B is rampant. Liver cancer caused by hep B is a huge killer in China.

 

And Hep B IS contageous. It is often not very contageous if it is in an inactive state as it is for most Chinese who have it because the majority of them contract it at birth, but it is contageous through blood and through sex. You should get vaccinated. Anyone who will be living with her should get vaccinated.

 

Research it, don't believe ANYTHING the Chinese doctors say about it without consulting someone in the states or even on the web to confirm it. For the country with the highest level of Hep B infections, the Chinese medical community knows NOTHING about it. If you don't believe me, PM me.

 

It will not affect her K-1 at all.

 

But keep this in mind going forward:

 

1. Get a full liver exam with a specialist in the US. This should include ultrasound at a minimum and preferrably a liver biopsy.

2. You and anyone who will be living with her should be vaccinated against Hep B.

3. She should be vaccinated against Hep A. It is a much less severe disease, but for someone who already has Hep B, getting Hep A also can be devistating.

4. Ask the specialist about recommendations for control. Sometimes they will suggest antivirals, but they all have their own risks associated. In some rare cases Interferon can cure it completely, but with the most common Chinese strains the chances are nearly abyssimal.

5. Have her get regular liver exams. Every 6 months is recommended. Every year is a bare minimum.

6. If you have children in the future, make sure the doctors are aware and administer the baby a shot of Hep-B immunoglobulin and the vaccine within 14 hours of birth. This will reduce their chance of contracting it to less than 5%

7. Be cautious of what medications she uses... you know that warning on Tylenol that says "People with liver problems... blah blah blah..."? This is for her.

 

Be aware that Chronic Hep B if left completely untreated carries a 25% chance of fatality. If treated this is much much lower.

 

This isn't meant to be "oooh scary"... Chances are she will be just fine for her whole life. I just want to point out to you that her condition has probably been ignored or mishandled by her doctors her whole life, and now is the time to be proactive.

 

If you have any questions, PM me, or ask me here. I'll do my best to point you in the right direction.

 

- Jason

[jwmurphy]

It is only contagious thru sex if blood is present, correct? A female can pass Hep B to a male if she is menstruating but a male can not pass it to a female. In the US the most common person to contract Hep B are drug users using a contaminated needles or homosexual because of certain practices.

 

In the US, 10% of the Hep B cases are chronic and lead to death. Hep B is in the top 10 killer deseases in the US.

 

Once she gets here you need to treat this situation seriously, if she has Hep B or Hep C.

 

Jeff

 

She probably has Hepatitis B if any. A does not become chronic ever and is highly contageous. C isn't very common in China. B is rampant. Liver cancer caused by hep B is a huge killer in China.

 

And Hep B IS contageous. It is often not very contageous if it is in an inactive state as it is for most Chinese who have it because the majority of them contract it at birth, but it is contageous through blood and through sex. You should get vaccinated. Anyone who will be living with her should get vaccinated.

 

Research it, don't believe ANYTHING the Chinese doctors say about it without consulting someone in the states or even on the web to confirm it. For the country with the highest level of Hep B infections, the Chinese medical community knows NOTHING about it. If you don't believe me, PM me.

 

It will not affect her K-1 at all.

 

But keep this in mind going forward:

 

1. Get a full liver exam with a specialist in the US. This should include ultrasound at a minimum and preferrably a liver biopsy.

2. You and anyone who will be living with her should be vaccinated against Hep B.

3. She should be vaccinated against Hep A. It is a much less severe disease, but for someone who already has Hep B, getting Hep A also can be devistating.

4. Ask the specialist about recommendations for control. Sometimes they will suggest antivirals, but they all have their own risks associated. In some rare cases Interferon can cure it completely, but with the most common Chinese strains the chances are nearly abyssimal.

5. Have her get regular liver exams. Every 6 months is recommended. Every year is a bare minimum.

6. If you have children in the future, make sure the doctors are aware and administer the baby a shot of Hep-B immunoglobulin and the vaccine within 14 hours of birth. This will reduce their chance of contracting it to less than 5%

7. Be cautious of what medications she uses... you know that warning on Tylenol that says "People with liver problems... blah blah blah..."? This is for her.

 

Be aware that Chronic Hep B if left completely untreated carries a 25% chance of fatality. If treated this is much much lower.

 

This isn't meant to be "oooh scary"... Chances are she will be just fine for her whole life. I just want to point out to you that her condition has probably been ignored or mishandled by her doctors her whole life, and now is the time to be proactive.

 

If you have any questions, PM me, or ask me here. I'll do my best to point you in the right direction.

 

- Jason

[Guest Rob & Jin]

It is only contagious thru sex if blood is present, correct? A female can pass Hep B to a male if she is menstruating but a male can not pass it to a female. In the US the most common person to contract Hep B are drug users using a contaminated needles or homosexual because of certain practices.

 

In the US, 10% of the Hep B cases are chronic and lead to death. Hep B is in the top 10 killer deseases in the US.

 

Once she gets here you need to treat this situation seriously, if she has Hep B or Hep C.

 

Jeff

 

She probably has Hepatitis B if any. A does not become chronic ever and is highly contageous. C isn't very common in China. B is rampant. Liver cancer caused by hep B is a huge killer in China.

 

And Hep B IS contageous. It is often not very contageous if it is in an inactive state as it is for most Chinese who have it because the majority of them contract it at birth, but it is contageous through blood and through sex. You should get vaccinated. Anyone who will be living with her should get vaccinated.

 

Research it, don't believe ANYTHING the Chinese doctors say about it without consulting someone in the states or even on the web to confirm it. For the country with the highest level of Hep B infections, the Chinese medical community knows NOTHING about it. If you don't believe me, PM me.

 

It will not affect her K-1 at all.

 

But keep this in mind going forward:

 

1. Get a full liver exam with a specialist in the US. This should include ultrasound at a minimum and preferrably a liver biopsy.

2. You and anyone who will be living with her should be vaccinated against Hep B.

3. She should be vaccinated against Hep A. It is a much less severe disease, but for someone who already has Hep B, getting Hep A also can be devistating.

4. Ask the specialist about recommendations for control. Sometimes they will suggest antivirals, but they all have their own risks associated. In some rare cases Interferon can cure it completely, but with the most common Chinese strains the chances are nearly abyssimal.

5. Have her get regular liver exams. Every 6 months is recommended. Every year is a bare minimum.

6. If you have children in the future, make sure the doctors are aware and administer the baby a shot of Hep-B immunoglobulin and the vaccine within 14 hours of birth. This will reduce their chance of contracting it to less than 5%

7. Be cautious of what medications she uses... you know that warning on Tylenol that says "People with liver problems... blah blah blah..."? This is for her.

 

Be aware that Chronic Hep B if left completely untreated carries a 25% chance of fatality. If treated this is much much lower.

 

This isn't meant to be "oooh scary"... Chances are she will be just fine for her whole life. I just want to point out to you that her condition has probably been ignored or mishandled by her doctors her whole life, and now is the time to be proactive.

 

If you have any questions, PM me, or ask me here. I'll do my best to point you in the right direction.

 

- Jason

 

 

Sorry you are wrong, hep B can be spead in vaginal secretions and semen too, not just blood like c, and of course a man can pass it on to a woman.

[TaijiMonkey]

Thanks guys!

 

Yeah, I really am not sure what she has, if she really has anything.

 

But if she does have a strain of Hep, I just want to know how to handle it with the K1.

 

She is also worried, because she is afraid that if she is not completely healthy, that it could ruin her chance to the US.

 

I just want to make sure she is happy, and there will be no unforeseen consequences with the Visa process.

 

 

And I want to but any worrying to rest, as well.

 

 

Any info about disclosing Hep in the visa process would be great.

 

Thanks again!

[Jeikun]

Thanks guys!

 

Yeah, I really am not sure what she has, if she really has anything.

 

But if she does have a strain of Hep, I just want to know how to handle it with the K1.

 

She is also worried, because she is afraid that if she is not completely healthy, that it could ruin her chance to the US.

 

I just want to make sure she is happy, and there will be no unforeseen consequences with the Visa process.

 

 

And I want to but any worrying to rest, as well.

 

 

Any info about disclosing Hep in the visa process would be great.

 

Thanks again!

 

Her blood test as part of the physical will likely detect it and it will be noted by the doctor on the form. Other than that, no reason to mention it at all. It has zero impact on her ability to get the visa. Put your mind to rest.

 

Do, however pay attention to whether she has it or not. It's not a visa problem, but it is a life-long health concern.

[Jeikun]

It is only contagious thru sex if blood is present, correct? A female can pass Hep B to a male if she is menstruating but a male can not pass it to a female. In the US the most common person to contract Hep B are drug users using a contaminated needles or homosexual because of certain practices.

 

In the US, 10% of the Hep B cases are chronic and lead to death. Hep B is in the top 10 killer deseases in the US.

 

Once she gets here you need to treat this situation seriously, if she has Hep B or Hep C.

 

Jeff

 

Incorrect on the 1st point. While not AS likely, Hep B can be passed through semen and vaginal secretions. It is in higher concentration in blood, though so it is more likely to be passed that way.

 

In the 2nd, yeah drug users are the most common cases in the US. In China it is at birth, or through poor sanitation and reuse of needles and IVs at the doctor or dentist.

 

On the 3rd, that is too scary, and not truely accurate. In a healthy adult person, Hepatitis only has about a 5% chance of becoming chronic. In an immune compromised person or a child this can be up to 25%. In an infant it is almost 100%. This is probably where the 10% average comes from.

 

But Chronic hep B doesn't "lead to death". Only about 25% of chronic Hep B cases are eventually fatal, which means 75% are not. This is usually through liver cancer or cirrosis caused by the frequent liver damage, or changes in liver cells DNA form the virus.

[jwmurphy]

You are right, I should have stated that not all chronic Hep B cases lead to death. Yet it is serious enough to make the top 10 illness list.

 

 

Jeff

 

 

On the 3rd, that is too scary, and not truely accurate. In a healthy adult person, Hepatitis only has about a 5% chance of becoming chronic. In an immune compromised person or a child this can be up to 25%. In an infant it is almost 100%. This is probably where the 10% average comes from.

 

But Chronic hep B doesn't "lead to death". Only about 25% of chronic Hep B cases are eventually fatal, which means 75% are not. This is usually through liver cancer or cirrosis caused by the frequent liver damage, or changes in liver cells DNA form the virus.

[tonado]

http://www.cdc.gov/Ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/faqb.htm

[xiaoheather]

This is just random, but if she does have a problem, check out www.hepatitismagazine.org. It has a lot of resources. (I used to work there!)

[jim_julian]

Years ago, when I mentioned to my doctor that I will be traveling to China she recommended hepatitis vaccination. It's always a good idea to let your doc know what you're up to.

[TaijiMonkey]

This is all great info.

 

I actually had both a Hep-A and a Hep-B (all three) vaccination beofre I went to China the first time, before I met her. So I am not worried much about my risks...

 

And she's the love of my life: I'd marry her if she had HIV...

 

 

I am just glad that it cause too much waves in my K-1 ocean.

 

 

 

But thanks again for all the good info.

[izus]

we are planning on doing a thailand trip when she gets her GC and both just completed our shots of HEP-B series of 3 shots....

 

insurance didnt cover it it was 90 bucks an injection