Please HELP!

[Indian26]

Hi,

first of all, thank you to all the team and experts who are helping in answering everyone queries,

I have one of my very close friend  is diagonised with HEP C ANTIBODY REACTIVE cutoff rate 2.35 at the age of 18years old.
3 years back, in 2009 we went for routine checkup , where her Hep c reports showed reactive 3.5, we asked her to see the dr. but she was scared to, now in again when i pushed her for checkup in Oct 2011, because i was worried, the report again shows reactive 2.35 but it decreased from 3.5 to 2.5. is it a postitive sign? we also went to see the doctor, he suggested for liver LFT and also RNA. RNA result showed RNA not detected and the liver is also normal so now what should she do?? she wants her reports to show it unreactive?

Is there a way or any treatement that can cure her from the virus? or hepc reactive means she will get it and she has to do over 3-6 months liver treatment, i am confused. We are planning to apply for schloarship but shes afraid she will be rejected if her medicals show HEP C reactive. Please help!

[hrsepwrguy]

"But there is no way or treatment or medicine to take that her reactive antibodies change non-reactive"

No there is not any way to change the results or rid the body of the antibodies, sad but true.

[Indian26]

for employement, all the medicals report are checked, all the tests are done to make sure evrything is negative. and i dun think everyone would understand that being hep c reative doesnt mean the person is not infected.
I am just too close to her, and we planned to apply scholarship or job in any of US firm but we cannot do any because of her medical issues.

But there is no way or treatment or medicine to take that her reactive antibodies change non-reactive, sorry i may sound stupid but i have no idea about it but i want to help her as much i can and this forum and u guys are just awesome! I appreciate the support everyone is givin each other :)

[pooh55811]

PS: Even if she had active chronic Hep C, which she does not, she could not be denied a scholarship or employment just because she had active Hep C.

All of us on the forum could go and apply for a job now and the employer would not know we had Hep C and we would not have to disclose it. Plus, if they found out, they can not fire us.

[pooh55811]

Having antibodies to Hepatitis C should not in any way affect obtaining a scholarship or future employment.

I do not think either the scholarship people or any employers have the right to access your friend's medical records. So if she does not tell them, they won't know. Even if they did know, they cannot deny a scholarship or employment because she has antibodies to Hep C. She is not infected. She cleared the infection. All she has are the antibodies. (She was one of the lucky ones who cleared Hep C on her own.)

(I am not certain about the military. Someone else may know that answer.)

[Indian26]

But will this be a problem for scholarship and other employement opportunities? Will it be a hurdle in any way? Because its considered as unfit for duty, right?
]
But yes maybe you are right, When we first went for check up in 2009, the cut off rate was 3.5/ but when we visited Dr again in 2011 it decreaed to 2.5/

[hrsepwrguy]

Approx 20% of all people who have been exposed to HCV clear the virus through their own immune system, they do not have an active HCV infection hence the negative RNA result but will always test positive for the antibodies just as someone who had chicken pox as a child will always show positive for chicken pox antibodies