Hepatitis becomes one of most devastating global healthcare issues

Islamabad
Around 1 million die each year from Hepatitis-B (HBV) infection, making it the 9th leading cause of death worldwide, and one of the most devastating global healthcare issues. As many as 350 million people worldwide are long-term carriers of Hepatitis-B; 75 per cent of the long-term careers are from the Asia-Pacific region while 25 per cent belong to the rest of the world. Up to 25 per cent will die due to Hepatitis-B or related complications.
The chief of medicine and gastroenterology at Shifa International Hospital (SIH), Dr. Nasir Khokhar, shared these data while addressing a public awareness seminar organised here on Tuesday in connection with World Hepatitis Day.
With reference to Hepatitis-C (HCV), Dr. Khokhar said an estimated 4 million people are infected with Hepatitis-C in the US only. The spectrum of chronic Hepatitis-C infection is essentially the same as chronic Hepatitis-B infection, he added. He stated that around 4.5 per cent of the total Pakistani population is infected with HCV and 2.5 per cent with HBV.
People in the Asia-Pacific acquire HBV and HCV infections through transfusion and transplant. Newborns of long-term carriers, individual with multiple sexual partners, intravenous drug users, healthcare workers, prisoners, and other institutionalised people also acquire HBV and HCV infection. Highlighting the clinical features of chronic liver disease, Dr. Khokhar termed fatigue, vascular spiders, enlarged or shrunken liver, enlarged spleen, finger clubbing, and bruising as some of the key symptoms.
Consultant gastroenterologist Dr. Mohammad Salih was of the view that Hepatitis-B infection can be prevented in non-infected individuals through vaccination. “However millions of infected will not be benefited,” he remarked. By 1998, about 80 countries had introduced vaccine for Hepatitis-B. He urged people infected from HBV and HCV to start effective and timely treatment to avoid end-stage liver disease like liver cancer and liver failure.
Dr. Salih said many cases of Hepatitis-A occur in communitywide outbreaks and no risk factors are identified for most cases. “It has highest attack rate in 5-14 year olds and children serve as a reservoir of infection,” he added. Contaminated water and food are the main causes of Hepatitis-A. Flies may carry diseases such as Hepatitis A, typhoid, amebic dysentery, and polio, he added. Out of 100 people with HCV, Dr. Salih informed, 15 will clear the virus without treatment, 85 will develop a lifelong chronic infection, 70 will develop chronic active liver disease, 15-20 will develop scarring or cirrhosis, and about 3 will die from HCV.
Consultant gastroenterologist Dr. Farzana Shafqat stressed the need to adopt a healthy and hygienic lifestyle to avoid Hepatitis-A and E. He said young children should be vaccinated for Hepatitis-A. Dr. Farzana suggested that to prevent Hepatitis-E, people, especially travellers, should avoid drinking water of unknown purity, unhygienic food and fruit/vegetables not peeled or prepared by/for travellers. She said since Hepatitis-B, C and D are transmitted through blood and body fluids, universal precautions are needed to avoid the disease. “Vaccine for HBV also protects against Hepatitis-D,” she added.
Free consultancy by qualified gastroenterologists was available to patients with HBV and HCV on the occasion.