Unintentional transmission of virus the biggest challenge, say doctors

Karachi
The worst challenge in the case of Hepatitis prevalence in Pakistan is the sheer number of people who are infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses, and are also spreading to their families and friends. In a situation like this, prevention is the best and the only course of action.
This was gist of messages and warnings by hepatologists, gastroenterologists and government health officials who addressed seminars, conferences, workshops and walks held at different hospitals and other venues in the city on Tuesday, the occasion of World Hepatitis Day.
The theme for this year is “Prevent Hepatitis: Act Now”, declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO), urging nations and people to work on prevention of the disease that was expensive and consuming to treat, and put a lot of extra burden on the health systems of countries.
The focus of WHO and other health agencies in combating Hepatitis is also to prevent the spread of Hepatitis B and C virus. Both types of disease are curable in early stages but can prove to be fatal if diagnosed in advanced stages when the liver was completely damaged and the only solution was a transplant, very complicated, costly and risky treatment.
In the numerous conferences and seminars organised to mark the occasion, prevention and awareness about the “silent killer” urging people to get screened for the virus, get vaccinated against it and avoid unsafe blood transfusions, use of infected surgical instruments and reusing syringes.
Events were held in Aga Khan Hospital, Dow University’s Ojha Campus, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi Press Club (KPC) and dozens of other hospitals and health institutes in the city. The Sindh Hepatitis Control Program arranged its awareness walk in the Murad Memon Goth to generate sensitivity among underdeveloped areas of the city.
As far as prevention from Hepatitis A and E is concerned, health experts urged people to use clean drinking water and fresh, well-cooked food.
“Hepatitis B is completely preventable by vaccine, available in the country at affordable prices. In three shots, a person can become immune to getting infected by the Hepatitis B virus,” said hepatologist Dr Shahid Ahmed, while speaking at an awareness seminar at the Karachi Press Club.
An associate professor at the Sar-ul-Sehat Hospital, Dr Ahmed said Hepatitis C was more dangerous because no vaccine had yet been developed for it. He said it spread through unsafe blood transfusions, infected syringes, surgical instruments, shaving blades and razors, tattooing machines and unsterilized equipment of dentists.
“Instead of going to quacks, people should consult qualified and experienced doctors, dentists and go to top-of-the-line hospitals where sterilisation of surgical and dental equipment is ensured,” he said. “Even healthy people get screened for Hepatitis B and C so that they don’t infect other healthy members of their families unintentionally.
He said between 60 and 70 percent cases of liver cancer could be attributed to the prevalence of Hepatitis C.
The WHO ranks Pakistan, second country in the world with the highest prevalence of Hepatitis C with an estimated four million patients.
“Never share razor blades, nail files, toothbrushes and other personal items. These items can be contaminated with traces of the owner’s blood. If the owner has hepatitis, using these objects can result in the transmission of the disease,” he said.
Another senior physician, Dr Sajjad Jamil of the Liaquat National Hospital, said every year there were and estimated 20 million infections of Hepatitis E, more than three million symptomatic cases, while around 56,600 hepatitis E-related deaths.
He maintained that Hepatitis E was usually self-limiting but may develop into Fulminant Hepatitis (acute liver failure). It was transmitted via the faecal-oral route, principally via contaminated water. Dr Jamil said Hepatitis E was found worldwide, but the prevalence was highest in East and South Asia, where there was increased morbidity among pregnant women. According to him, China had produced and licensed the first vaccine to prevent Hepatitis E virus infection, though it wasn’t yet available globally.