PIMS received 3,000 hepatitis patients in one year

Islamabad

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences received well over 3,000 patients of hepatitis with severe complications in last one year while over 2300 new patients suffering from hepatitis reported at the hospital during the said period.

Data collected by ‘The News’ reveals that there is an increase in number of cases registered at the PIMS as compared to the previous year particularly with complications involving liver disease.

The PIMS has put as many as 2,300 new patients of hepatitis C on anti-viral treatment in last one year and it is alarming that nearly 1,500 patients of hepatitis reached hospital after episodes of blood vomiting, said Deputy Director at PIMS Dr. Waseem Ahmed Khawaja while talking to ‘The News’ on Saturday.

He added that the PIMS received over 1,800 patients of hepatitis C with coma, a severe complication of the disease. The hospital has been providing anti-viral treatment to all these patients suffering from severe complications of hepatitis, he said.

To a query, he said the incidence of hepatitis B along with hepatitis C is also on the rise and the PIMS has registered as many as 300 new patients of hepatitis B in last one year who were in need of anti-viral treatment.

Around 350 patients were diagnosed with hepatitis A and over 150 with hepatitis E at the PIMS in one year, said Dr. Khawaja. He added that it is observed that most of the patients suffering from hepatitis A and E do not report at the tertiary care hospitals.

He said the number of new patients diagnosed with hepatitis reveals that the incidence of the infection is increasing every year at an alarming pace in this region of the country and there is a dire need of creating awareness among public on various aspects of the disease.

Delay in reporting has been observed in majority of cases suffering from hepatitis and for in time diagnosis, there is a need of making public more aware, said Dr. Khawaja.

He said that both the oral medication and injection therapy are being provided to hepatitis C patients at PIMS. It is decided according to stage of the disease and age of the patient that what kind of treatment, he or she is needed, he said.

To a query, he said the increase in number of cases of hepatitis show that at present, there is no significant control on spread of the disease.

He, like many other health experts, said the main reasons behind spread of hepatitis are use of unsterilized medical equipment, use of unscreened blood and blood products, multiple uses of single syringes, beauty parlour instruments and carelessness in lifestyle.

He said if we want to control spread of hepatitis across the country, the facilities of PCR testing and genotyping must be made available in all healthcare facilities for all patients.

It is important that PCR and genotyping is a must for diagnosis, prognosis and duration of treatment and whether a patient needs treatment or not for antiviral therapy.

Talking to ‘The News’ in connection with World Hepatitis Day, observed on Friday, he said the spread of hepatitis can only be controlled through proper management of the existing patients and awareness among public on how to prevent it.