Hepatitis B, C patients need advice while fasting

Rawalpindi: Patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B or C must take advice from a qualified physician when opting for fasting in the holy month of Ramazan whereas, according to health experts, a patient of hepatitis C who has already developed complications and his or her liver is not functioning normal should not fast.

The patients suffering from hepatitis C complications including contraction of liver called cirrhosis or ascites (distention of abdomen due to abnormal accumulation of water) or liver cancer must avoid fasting. Such patients may face life-threatening conditions in case of a little carelessness, said Vice Chancellor of Rawalpindi Medical University Professor Dr. Muhammad Umar while talking to ‘The News’ on Sunday.

He said Hepatitis C patients with affected liver may suffer from lowering of blood sugar in result of fasting and the phenomenon may lead to life threatening condition.

He added that patients of hepatitis B or C who are being administered injections or taking oral medication can fast but they should consult their physicians to get schedule of medicines changed while fasting. He said that such patients should not discontinue medication including administration of injections.

He added that if a patient of hepatitis B or C has ever vomited blood, he or she should not fast and similarly if a patient has ever suffered from unconsciousness, he should not fast.Hepatitis C virus infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis, considered as the end-stage liver disease. Most of the people develop distension of abdomen due to accumulation of water, many present with vomiting of blood as the veins in the food passage rupture due to raised pressure of the portal circulation. It is estimated that 3-4 per cent of Pakistani population is infected with Hepatitis B virus while 5-6% with hepatitis C virus.

Professor Umar said if the fasting patients of hepatitis B or C feel drowsiness or pain in stomach, they should not retain fast instead they should break open fast and consult their physician to avoid complications.

The patients with chronic hepatitis B or C or those who are being treated through injections or oral medication, if fast, should not take food containing higher fats specifically at the time of ‘Iftar’, he said. He suggested that such patients should avoid eating ‘pakoras’, ‘samosas’ or ‘kachoris’ instead they should take juices and fresh fruits including dates at ‘iftar’.

He added that hepatitis B or C patients if allowed fasting by their physicians should take plenty of water at the time of ‘sehr’ and ‘iftar’.

He added that patients with stomach related diseases including stomach related acidity, dyspepsia or stomach ulcer should also avoid oily foods while fasting and if they still feel that they have symptoms of ulcer, they should not fast.

It is believed that in patients with ulcerative symptoms, acidity might shoot due to fasting and they might have ulcer pains.Professor Umar said fasting may cause upper GI (gastrointestinal) bleeding in patients with severe ulcer and it can be dangerous particularly in elderly patients.