Problems related to HIV and Hepatitis C
Comparison between HIV and Hepatitis C
HIV and Hepatitis C Virus have various things in common but also have quite distinct differences in the manner in which they are transmitted, treatment, disease progression, and how long each virus resides outside the body. Both HIV and HV are RNA viruses but are varying kinds of RNA viruses in that HCV is a flavivirus, whereas HIV is a retrovirus. Whereas HIV majorly infects human immune cells, HCV majorly infects the liver cells. Both of them are transmitted through blood routes, but HCV is 10 times more concentrated in blood compared to HIV (Franciscus, 2012). HCV can live outside the body for about 16 hours but not more than 4 days, while HIV, once exposed to air, lasts for a few moments.
Whereas HCV infection risk through sexual contact is low, this risk heightens for individuals with HIV, and using a condom during sex or abstinence can help prevent both diseases. HIV can also be prevented by not sharing needles and making use of prevention medicines like pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis. HCV can be prevented by avoiding injecting drugs, sharing and reusing, and sharing personal care items such as razors and toothbrushes that might contain blood (Robinson, 2020). Other communicable diseases can be avoided by washing hands with water and soap frequently and thoroughly, covering one’s mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and frequently disinfecting touched surfaces.
Given that most individuals with HCV and HIV are usually stigmatized and marginalized, Zevin (2007) outlines that their most important needs are rehabilitation services like home care, nutritional support, psychological and social support, and counseling services. Some of the professional ethics involved in the interaction with the infected population involve confidentiality, informed consent, and autonomy of individuals. Autonomy requires respect for their independence in decision-making and also committing to respecting them, including their confidentiality. Testing should also be done while respecting the patient’s security, freedom, and right to dignity and privacy (Hlongwa, 2016). In Portland, Indiana, informed consent is paramount. A fair explanation of the examination, including the purpose and meaning of the examination results, needs to be done. The patient needs to know that test is of voluntary nature and that they have the right to withdraw consent. The right to anonymity to the extent that is provided by law in regard to participation in the examination and examination results’ disclosure also needs to be done. The CDC (2020) also outlines the right to confidential treatment to the scope offered by the law of information recognizing the subject of the check-up as well as the results.
References
CDC. (2020). Indiana. Retrieved from http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2014/ic/titles/016/articles/041/chapters/006/
Franciscus, A. (2012). Similarities and Differences between HIV and HCV. Retrieved from https://demystifyingmedicine.od.nih.gov/DM13/2013-01-22/HCSP-FactSheet-Sept2012.pdf
Hlongwa, P. (2016). Current ethical issues in HIV/AIDS research and HIV/AIDS care. Oral diseases, 22, 61-65.
Robinson, J. (December 16, 2020). Hepatitis C Prevention. WebMD. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/understanding-hepatitis-c-prevention
Zevin, B. (2007). Managing chronic hepatitis C in primary-care settings: more than antiviral therapy. Public Health Reports, 122(2_suppl), 78-82.
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Problems related to HIV and Hepatitis C
Intravenous drug users are at high risk for HIV and Hepatitis C. Although both illnesses can be contracted via other means, intravenous drug use, specifically the sharing of needles and/or sex with someone who has shared needles, greatly increases the chances of infection. Infections are often accompanied by lifelong health consequences that can be quite debilitating for those who suffer from them.
Compare and contrast HIV and Hepatitis C. How can HIV, Hepatitis C, and other communicable diseases be prevented? Once an infection occurs, list some specific needs of individuals living with either illness. Discuss some of the professional ethics involved in interacting with the infected population. Finally, perform a web search of the laws that govern HIV confidentiality in your state, and provide a summary of an individual’s rights as provided by those laws.