What's New?

PHMP Newsletter

March 2006

Introduction

Topics of conversation
Are you at risk of Hepatitis C?
Extension of Childhood Immunisation Programme
Open up to Mouth Cancer

Welcome to our Newsletter!

Here you will find:

· Announcements
· Important information

Are you at risk of Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is spread mainly through direct contact with the blood of an infected person. Currently, the greatest risk of acquiring Hepatitis C infection in this country is through sharing blood contaminated needles and drug injecting equipment. If you have EVER shared equipment for injecting drugs—even if it was a long time ago, and even if you only did it once or twice—you could be at risk from Hepatitis C.

However, there are other ways in which you could have been put at risk of contracting the virus:

If you received a blood transfusion before September 1991, or blood products (such as clotting factors) before 1986, you may be at risk from Hepatitis C. For example, if you had an operation prior to 1991 you may have received blood. Nowadays all blood and blood products are screened for viruses such as Hepatitis C.

Less common ways in which Hepatitis C can be passed on are:

From infected mother to baby, before or during birth
Unprotected sex with someone who has the virus
Medical and dental treatment abroad where unsterile equipment may be used
Tattooing, ear or body piercing or acupuncture with unsterile equipment
Sharing razors or toothbrushes or other toiletry equipment which may have been contaminated with infected blood

If you think you may have been exposed to the Hepatitis C virus in any of these ways, ask your GP for advice on whether you should be tested. For further information on why testing is important if you could be at risk, please access this link, NHS Patient Information Leaflet on Hepatitis C:
NHS Patient Information Leaflet Hepatitis C
This is a PDF file, to view it you will need the reader which is available free to download from Adobe Acrobat Reader:
Adobe Acrobat Reader

Extension of Childhood Immunisation Programme

The Pneumococcal vaccine is to be added to the UK Childhood Immunisation Programme, to be introduced 2006/2007. This vaccine protects against a disease that causes blood poisoning, meningitis and pneumonia. Up to 50 children are thought to die in England and Wales each year from serious Pneumococcal infections. The United States has seen an immense impact this Programme has had since its introduction, cases in young children caused by the strains in the vaccine have fallen by 94% and cases in over 65s have dropped by two-thirds. Immunisation is the best way to protect children from serious disease and the routine Childhood Programme has been extremely effective in achieving this. The changes set out will further improve the Programme and benefit children. Two other changes have also been announced to maximise protection against Meningitis C and Haemophilus Influenzae type B (Hib). The current 3 doses of Meningitis C vaccine will be given at 3 and 4 months with a booster at 12 months. It is currently available at 2, 3 and 4 months of age. A booster dose of Hib vaccine will not be given at 12 months.
Further information for parents and health professionals can be found at the NHS Immunisation Website:
NHS Immunisation Website
Details of advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation can be found at the Department of Health Advisory Bodies’ Website:
Department of Health Advisory Bodies' Website
The above information was provided by the NHS website (NHS Connecting for Health): NHS Website

The new routine Childhood Immunisation Programme
2 months - DTaP/IPV/Hib + Pneumococcal Vaccine
3 months - DTaP/IPV/Hib + MenC Vaccine
4 months - DTaP/IPV/Hib + MenC + Pneumococcal Vaccine
12 months - Hib/MenC
13 months - MMR + Pneumococcal Vaccine
DTaP/IPV/Hib is a single vaccine that protects against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Polio and Hib. MenC protects against Meningitis C. Hib/MenC is a combined vaccine protecting against Hib and Meningitis C.

Open up to Mouth Cancer

Doctors diagnose around 4,400 cases of mouth cancer in the UK each year. Although it is not known what exactly causes mouth cancer, certain things affect your risk.

Warning signs to look out for (see your Doctor or Dentist if any of these symptoms last longer than 3 weeks)

Ulcer or sore in your mouth
Red or white patch in your mouth
Unexplained pain in your mouth or ear
Unexplained lump in your neck
Sore or painful throat
Croaky voice or difficulty swallowing

Reduce your risk of mouth cancer/Who is at risk?

Age & Sex: 86% of mouth cancer patients are aged 50 or over, twice as common in men.
Tobacco & Alcohol: Most cases of mouth cancer occur in people who do one or several of the following - smoke tobacco,chew tobacco, chew betel nut, regularly drink alcohol. People who use tobacco and drink too much alcohol have the highest risk of mouth cancer.
What you eat: 10 to 15% of all mouth cancers are linked to unhealthy diets, try to eat at least 5 portions of different coloured fruit and vegetables every day.
Sun exposure: Spending too much time in the sun increases your risk of lip cancer.
Other risk factors: Having a weakened immune system and exposure to certain chemicals at work.

The above information was taken from and further information can be found on the Cancer Research UK Website:
Cancer Research UK Open Up To Mouth Cancer Website

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