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Hepatitis B - Medical Conditions

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. The virus attacks liver cells causing either short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) hepatitis.

Acute hepatitis infection can make a person feel unwell, but most people recover fully. A simple blood test can establish whether the person still has the hepatitis B virus in the blood or whether the person has been able to successfully get rid of the virus.

Chronic hepatitis B is when the test is positive for the hepatitis B virus for more than 6 months. This means that the immune system was not able to get rid of the hepatitis B virus and it still remains in the blood and liver. Chronic hepatitis B infection can lead to scarring (cirrhosis) and cancer of the liver. Treatment is focused on preventing long-term liver damage.

https://www.hepatitisfoundation.org.nz/

Hepatitis C - Medical Conditions

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is the most common preventable cause of liver disease in New Zealand. The hepatitis C virus is carried in blood and can be passed to someone through blood-to-blood contact, such as sharing needles.

In New Zealand we have access to a very effective medicine called Maviret. Most people with hepatitis C can be cured with a course of Maviret treatment. After 8 weeks of treatment more than 90% of people will be cured of the disease.

https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/health-a-z/h/hepatitis-c/

Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen blood vessels that develop from the tissue that lines the anal canal or back passage. This area can then get irritated when you have a bowel movement. Internal haemorrhoids are above the anal canal, in the rectum, and you can’t usually see or feel them as there are not many pain sensors in the rectum. The only sign that they are present may be bleeding from the bottom. Sometimes large haemorrhoids protrude or prolapse outside the anal spincter and these can hurt and bleed. They usually go back into the rectum on their own but sometimes they need to be gently pushed back into place. External haemorrhoids are found in the anus and are painful.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) occurs when there is an abnormal increase in the overall bacterial population in the small intestine. Intestinal surgery or certain diseases can slow the passage of food and waste products in the digestive tract, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. The excess bacteria can cause diarrhoea, weight loss and malnutrition.

Breath testing is a noninvasive test which measures the amount of hydrogen or methane that you breathe out after drinking a mixture of glucose and water. A rapid rise in exhaled hydrogen or methane may indicate bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine.

Two separate breath tests are required with the initial test being a control test using lactulose (a mild laxative). This will determine whether you are a hydrogen or methane producer to ensure the correct gas is measured on subsequent testing. 15% of patients do not produce hydrogen and methane needs to be measured instead.

The breathalyser used at the Cambridge Specialist Centre only detects hydrogen when it is breathed out from the lungs. If the initial lactulose test identifies that you do not produce hydrogen, then methane testing will be used and the sealed samples will be sent to Auckland for analysis.

Testing occurs over two separate days.

Food intolerances are a common cause of gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating, wind and pain. When certain sugars (FODMAPS) are absorbed poorly in the small bowel, these sugars react with bacteria and produce a gas (either hydrogen or methane) which is then absorbed and breathed out from the lungs, which can be detected during breath testing. The low FODMAP diet has been scientifically and clinically shown to reduce functional abdominal symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease (not responding to a gluten free diet) and inflammatory bowel disease with limited inflammation.

Breath hydrogen and methane tests are used to determine intolerances to both lactose (the sugar found in milk) and/or fructose (the sugar found in honey and many fruits). Three separate breath tests are required with the initial test being a control test using lactulose (a mild laxative). This will determine whether you are a hydrogen or methane producer to ensure the correct gas is measured on subsequent testing. 15% of patients do not produce hydrogen and methane needs to be measured instead.

The breathalyser used at the Cambridge Specialist Centre only detects hydrogen when it is breathed out from the lungs. If the initial lactulose test identifies that you do not produce hydrogen, then methane testing will be used and the sealed samples will be sent to Auckland for analysing.

Testing occurs over three separate days.

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