Adopting a child from China - Confused about test results?

[rinbea]

We are considering adopting a child from China who was diagnosed with Hep B. The test results are as follows:

HBsAg - positive
Anti-HBs - negative
HBeAg - positive
Anti-HBe - negative
Anti-HBc - positive

1) Could my 7yr old child at home contract this from the above child?
2) Is this life threatening or easily treated?

Please provide as much info about this as possible.

Thank you

[silvermoon]

Hi!.. How precious !! ....
The test results mean that the child has HepB.. the "anti" tests are for antibodies to the Hep B virus, which are present after one receives the HepB Vaccine series, thereby indicating immunity to the virus.. The others results the indicate presence of the HepB virus itself.
Hep B is  very contagious and transmitted in many ways.  Many avenues of transmission are ones that would never cross our minds, but if we KNOW, we can prevent.  
My best advice would be to talk with an Infectious Disease doc AND a pediatrician, (because it will affect the childs health) and get as much info as possible, before doing anything further. Bottom line: you NEED to know what you'll be dealing with and HOW to deal with it to prevent spreading the virus to anyone else.
Being well informed and accurately informed is the KEY to dealing with health issues.
Wish you the best!!

[ellissg]

GOT TO BUST IN DUE TO ENZYME RESULTS AND CAN'T POST A QUESTION.

Post treatment for 2b, my alt and ast are going up. From a low during treatment of 44 and 48, t0 126 and 82. I was undectable at 12 weeks. Still waiting for new Viral Load results.

Has anyone else had this happen.

Thanks,
Steve

[silvermoon]

Here's a link.. good article in nursing journal.. all about  the different Hepatitis viruse ..worth checking out..good luck!

http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=513393

[ellissg]

As you might remember, no biopsy was ever done cause of my being on Coumadin. I can't find any link between anticoagulants and AST or ALT. Yesterday they did a CT Scan, just to see if the liver is enlarged, damaged, or full of fatty tissue from 35 years of 2 to 3 drinks every night. Results tomorrow. Have you gotton any test results yet, post treatment?

Thanks as always for your understanding and concern.

Steve

[kojak66]

In answer to your first question...
Your 7 yr. old could only get this through blood or sexual contact.  It's not very likely unless the child with hepB has a bleeding wound that into an open sore.
In answer to your first question...
A cold or the flu can be life threatening, and neither can be easily treated.  The chances are that the child from China will be sick for 2-3 months and get over it without any treatment at all.
Call The Americian Liver Foundation @ 1-800-0179 for more info, or call any local pediatrician, gastroenterologist, or hepatologist.

Kojak

[louisep]

Sorry to jump in on this thread but is anyone having or has had sinus problems after finishing tx?  I finished tx in May & since then I haven't stopped sneezing, constant runny nose, stuffed up feeling etc.  It doesn't feel like a cold, it's just really annoying.  I'm getting worried that this is a sign that the hep c is back & don't get my check up until Nov.
Many thanks
Louise

[Honey15637]

Louise,,,that is something I have had since being on tx and didn't before starting and can't help you on the post part.  But late at night,,,my nose stops up alot and yes every once in awhile I start sneezing and can't quit.  Maybe,,,just the meds are still working on getting out of your system...Best of Luck!

Heyyyyy Chevy....Got up this am early and so glad to see you back in full swing in forum!! Love your posts!!  You are the greatest and I get so tickled thinking of you at the picnic,,,just your fun loving spirit having a good time!

[louisep]

Yep.....I was on ads while on tx, Ciprimol.  I'd never taken ads before tx. I came off them 2 months before finishing tx & felt like a huge weight had been lifted!  All through tx I had nausea, lightheadedness, diarhea (diarrhea), occasional vomiting & DEPRESSION & put most of this down to the tx but it seems like alot of what I was feeling was from the ads.....maybe I'm wrong?  It's kinda hard to figure out what is normal while on tx.
I'm not too sure of what to do about the 6 month test, whether to try & get it done early or not as I'm now in Spain & my hep c Specialist is in England?  But I'll e mail my hep nurse & see what she thinks.
Thanks guys.
Louise

[ellissg]

Sure! Lets stay in touch. ***@****

Thanks for everything. Looking forward to hearing from you. Still awaiting CT scan results. It will be interesting, and possible frightening to find out how much fibrosis / fatty tissue is present after all that abuse.

Your Friend,
Steve