[author image=”http://hunzanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Dr-Sadia.jpg” ]Dr Saadia Khan A paediatric resident at the Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, she has a keen interest in preventative paediatric medicine and community work, and tweets as@drkhanchc (twitter.com/drkhanchc).[/author]
World Hepatitis Day.
The world Hepatitis day (28 July) is held globally for the awareness, prevention and to take actions and serious moves regarding viral Hepatitis treatment and prevention. Hepatitis is the inflammation of liver which can be due to drugs, alcohol, viruses, metabolic disorders and secondarily to many medical diseases.
Viral Hepatitis is a group of infectious viral diseases classified as Hepatitis A, B, C, D &E that affects worldwide population and causes acute as well as chronic disease and is killing 1.4 million people.
Around 2 billion people are living with Hepatitis worldwide B and more than 400 million are carriers of disease. Hepatitis C has infected 170 million people globally. It presents as mild fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, pain abdomen, and yellowish discoloration of skin and eyes (Jaundice).
If it gets chronic then abdominal distention, fluid in abdomen (Ascites), enlargement of viscera (spleenomegaly), hematemesis (blood in vomitus) occurs. When these signs occur the liver may already damaged.
Hepatitis A infection is mostly acute and mild and highly contagious and has fecal-oral route mode transmission .Hepatitis B and C are serious one and can lead to liver damage), hepatic failure and liver cancer. Cirrhosis (shrinkage of liver due to damage to liver cells) is not reversible and indicate liver transplant.
It spreads through contact with secretions (blood,saliva,genital secretions ) of infected persons, sharing razors, tooth brushes common needles ,further more infected mother can transmit the disease to new born during delivery. It can also transmit by tattoos and body piercing.
It is not transmitted through sharing food, coughing, or through breast feeding. (Breast feeding is not contraindicated for the children of third world country whose mothers have Hept.B,C infection or even have HIV).Drug abusers, persons with multiple sexual partners and medical personals working in close contact with blood are at a greater risk.
1- Maintain good hygiene: Hand washing, drinking boiled water and proper disposal of stool are essential for prevention of Hepatitis A.
2-Vaccination: Vaccines are available for Hepatitis A and B. for Hepatitis A vaccine two doses provides 99 -100 % immunity and is recommended for children above 2 years. Hepatitis B vaccine is also available since 1986.Its three doses are recommended and claims to provide 95% immunity in children. Timely and early vaccination should be given to the new born of infected mother.
3-Sterilization: During operations, dental procedures, instrumentations are mandatory. Quacks should be avoided for procedures. There should be strict check during blood transfusions, blood donations, and dialysis. There is a dire need for making policy for the proper disposal and reuse of syringes.
Pakistan has bulk of cases as well as carriers of Hepatitis B and C .Lack of awareness, preventive medicine, and education, poor hygiene, drug abuse, frustrations, abiding Islamic principles, poor medical facilities and unavailability of treatment are factors predisposing Pakistan to the epidemic of infectious Hepatitis. Cost to treat Hepatitis B and C far more than its prevention.
There is a need to bridge the gap between Government, medical persons, civil society, media and general population regarding the awareness and prevention of disease and everyone should contribute to get rid of it on urgent basis.
