A US study has found that as many as one in five people with hepatitis C have
the virus in their saliva and could pass on the disease by sharing toothbrushes
and even through kissing.
Researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle tested the saliva of people with hepatitis C every day for three weeks and discovered that those with high levels of the virus in their blood also had traces of it in their saliva.
They said they were more likely to detect the virus in the saliva if the patient had gum disease. Brushing teeth often makes the gums bleed, leaving tiny drops of blood in the mouth.
Dr Chia Wong told the recent Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents in Chicago that people with gum disease were most at risk. “This study suggests that the saliva of individuals infected with hepatitis C may be infectious,” said Dr Wong, explaining: “Microscopic amounts of blood in the saliva due to gum disease may be responsible.”
Dr Wong advised people not to share toothbrushes and said the research indicated its spread by kissing.
HIV and hepatitis C co-infection are believed to increase the amount of hep C viral load and people with both viruses are advised to be particularly careful with oral hygiene.
As many as 170 million people worldwide are estimated to be carriers of hepatitis C, the World Health Organisation says, and between 200,000 and 500,000 people in the UK.
The virus affects different people in different ways with symptoms such as tiredness, weight loss, nausea, flu-like problems, abdominal pain and jaundice. As many as 80 per cent of people with the disease go on to develop a life-long chronic infection. The virus was for years assumed to be spread just by blood contact but recently has been shown to be passed on by sex as well.
People co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C have particular problems, doctors have found, and even though drug therapies are available to treat both the diseases, neither is a cure.
The cost of the hepatitis C treatments is also a major financial problem for some hospitals.
The Washington University research echoes studies from Madrid a couple of years ago which suggested that hepatitis C was being spread by people sharing straws, and even bank notes, to snort drugs.
High heels may be good for you
Flu jabs are safeAfter years of debate it is now clear that flu jabs are safe and a good idea for most HIV positive people. Dr Brian Boyle from Cornell University said that patients with HIV routinely get flu shots since their immune compromise may lead to an increased likelihood of their getting flu and having a severe illness. For people with low CD4 counts (less than 200) the flu jabs are less successful, Dr Boyle says, but most doctors still recommend them. The downside of having a flu jab is that some HIV patients are likely to experience a flu-like illness following the shot and a small HIV viral load increase may occur. Vaginal ring can stop HIVA study from Queen’s University Belfast has found that an internal vaginal ring, impregnated with antibiotics, can not only treat sexually-transmitted infections but also prevent transmission of HIV. Researcher Dr Karl Malcolm said that HIV does not survive long in the normal acidic environment of the vagina but thrives in alkaline conditions associated with vaginal infections. The breakthrough gives hope that a vaginal microbicide to prevent HIV transmission could be developed both quickly and cheaply. |
‘Half of the ice in bars is unsafe’
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Iain Webster, Reiki Master and practitioner, explains why he fell under the spell of this ancient healing practice sometimes known as ‘the laying on of hands’
I remember the first time I came across this therapy - already a qualified
massage practitioner, I was open to exploring other forms of alternative therapy.
On my first session I really wasn’t sure I had derived any benefit from
it. Six years later my Reiki journey has brought me to the point of being a
Reiki Master and I still marvel at the positive and beneficial effects it brings
to clients and students.
Reiki, (pronounced Ray-Key) is a system of natural healing involving the laying on of hands and is probably thousands of years old although its true origins are uncertain. Its accepted Western translation is rei meaning ‘universal’ and kei or chi meaning ‘life force’. The word Reiki refers to the energy that practitioners use in healing rather than the technique itself. The most recognised form now used is called the Usui system of Natural Healing named after Dr Mikao Usui (pictured above) who rediscovered its use for the purpose of healing in the late 1800s.
Reiki treatments are quiet and almost meditative. Practitioners will firstly
settle their client on a treatment couch and cover them with a light blanket
or cloth. Recipients are fully clothed but advised to wear loose fitting clothing.
I like to talk clients through a relaxation exercise first to help them start
to relax and give me a chance to tune into their body rhythms and movements.
The practitioner then places their hands lightly on the recipient in different
positions over the body. The practitioner acts like a conduit channelling life
energy through their hands into the person being treated. A sensation of warmth
may be felt in the affected area being treated. Some people also experience
feelings of weightlessness and some see vivid lights and colours. Reiki restores
and balances the body’s own natural energy flows. It promotes mental
and physical relaxation and imparts a feeling of well-being. The flow of energy
also helps to relieve pain, remove toxins and allow essential nutrients to
work more effectively as part of the body’s natural healing process.
I have always found Reiki to be particularly successful helping clients with
HIV with general stress relief and helping combat insomnia and promoting good
quality sleep. It has also helped with instilling a general feeling of well-being
and increased self confidence and self awareness. I have worked successfully
with clients with irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhoea and also someone suffering
with a collapsed lung. One of the advantages of Reiki work is that it can be
practised anywhere and I’ve been able to work on busy hospital wards
and rooms with excellent results (although the background noise doesn’t
always make for a quiet relaxing treatment room!).
As with most alternative therapies, personal recommendation is always best.
There are a lot of Reiki practitioners around. All Reiki practitioners go
through a Reiki attunement process carried out by a Reiki Master, which includes
the attunement of his/her body energy centres or chakras. There are three
levels of practice qualification: Reiki 1, 2 and level 3 or Master level.
When choosing a practitioner ring them up and talk to them about their experiences, training, background and general ethos. Ask about insurance and membership/s of associations of alternative therapists. If you feel a connection, this will probably be the right practitioner for you. Reiki happens when it is right; don’t push it or be pushed into it if you aren’t comfortable.
Charges will vary according to expertise and ethos, but average about £30 for a one-hour session. Treatments can take place over a number of sessions though single sessions can be beneficial depending on the nature of the ailment being treated. Check with your local HIV support centre if they have access to a Reiki practitioner and if it is subsidised. Visit: www.reiki.org
Reiki is offered at certain HIV centres for registered users, including:
Iain Webster is a Reiki Master and a member of the MTI register of massage practitioners. Tel: 020 8519 9805. email: EppieChi@aol.com |
A report published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health says
that wearing high-heel shoes does not increase the risk of developing crippling
knee conditions, such as osteoarthritis, and even suggests that they may be
beneficial. The study said that joint problems are more likely to be caused
by a previous injury, smoking or excess weight. Painful feet and bone problems
for people with HIV are more likely to be due to long-term antiretroviral treatments.
Nearly half of the ice served in British bars and restaurants is unsafe, reveals
the government’s Health Protection Agency (HPA). Dr Suzanne Surman studied
samples of ice from ice buckets and ice machines in various catering outlets
and found 44 per cent contained coliforms, five per cent contained E coli and
10 per cent contained enterococci bacteria. If catering staff do not wash their
hands regularly then there is the possibility of faecal contamination and the
passing on of hepatitis A. People with HIV are advised to be careful about
ice in drinks and avoid it if at all possible. This follows serious outbreaks
of potentially deadly cryptosporidium in the public water supply in recent
years. To be absolutely safe at home, use only chilled boiled water to make
ice.