Pune: According to doctors, around 9 out of 10 people living with viral hepatitis are unaware about the diseases. Doctors from the city share the need to talk more about hepatitis on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day celebrated on July 28.
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver which may result from various causes, both infectious (viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic) as well as non-infectious (consumption of alcohol, drugs, autoimmune diseases and metabolic disease)s.
Typical symptoms are fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of eyes/ skin, passage of dark coloured urine or pale stools.
Dr Pavan Hanchanale, Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist from Jupiter Hospital said that certain forms like A and E are self-limiting, wherein rest at home and supportive medications are advised till fever and jaundice settles.“In rare cases, patient may need hospitalisation and monitoring for development of complications,” said Hanchanale.He added that everyone should undergo screening for hepatitis B and C because they remain symptom free until they can cause silent liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and in few cases acute liver failure.
Dr Sachin Naik from Sai Shree Hospital said that the awareness about hepatitis is about 20 per cent which is very low.
Dr Mahesh Lakhe, Consultant Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, said that hepatitis B is a viral infection and childre are vulnerable to mother-to-child transmission of the disease. “That is why vaccinating children is an important step in stemming the spread of the disease.,” he added.
