PUNE: Doctors from the city underlined the need to spread more awareness about viral Hepatitis on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day (July 28).
World Health Organisation (WHO) also called on countries to take advantage of recent reductions in the costs of diagnosing and treating viral hepatitis and scale up investments in disease elimination. By investing in diagnostic tests and medicines for treating hepatitis B and C, countries can save lives and reduce costs related to the long-term care of cirrhosis and liver cancer that result from untreated hepatitis.
As per WHO, there are five types of viral hepatitis infections - A, B, C, D and E. Over 95 per cent of deaths are caused by chronic hepatitis B and C infections, while Hepatitis A and E rarely cause life-threatening illnesses. Hepatitis D is an additional infection occurring in people living with hepatitis B.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Dr Pavan Hanchanale, gastroenterologist and liver transplant specialist, at the Jupiter Hospital, Baner, said hepatitis affects the liver and there can be various reasons for it.
“We commonly see infections such as viral hepatitis causing jaundice and liver failure in some. Typical symptoms of acute viral hepatitis are fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, itching, yellowing of eyes and skin, the passage of dark-coloured urine or pale stools. It is diagnosed with physical examination and blood tests,” said Dr Hanchanale.
He added that Hepatitis A and E are mostly self-limiting, spread through consumption of contaminated water and food. “In rare cases, patients may need hospitalisation and monitoring for the development of complications. Hand hygiene, safe food preparation, clean water consumption and vaccination against hepatitis A can help in the prevention of the infection. Hepatitis E can be life-threatening during pregnancy and needs careful management,” said Dr Hanchanale.
He said Hepatitis B and C spread via contact with contaminated blood and blood products for example sharing of needles, blades, toothbrush, etc. “Everyone should undergo screening for these types of hepatitis because they remain symptom-free until the development of silent liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and in few cases of acute liver failure requiring a liver transplant,” said Dr Hanchanale.
Speaking about the treatment modules, Dr Hanchanale said the treatment is available for both viruses.
“Moreover, Hepatitis C can be cured these days with tablets, whereas hepatitis B can be kept under control with medicines and routine follow-up. The government has initiated efforts through mandatory childhood vaccinations to prevent Hepatitis B. There is no vaccine available for hepatitis C till now,” said Dr Hanchanale.
A new study by WHO, published recently in ‘Lancet Global Health’, stated investing USD 6 billion per year in eliminating hepatitis in 67 low- and middle-income countries would avert 4.5 million premature deaths by 2030 and over 26 million deaths beyond that target date. A total of USD 58.7 billion are needed to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in these 67 countries by 2030. This means reducing new hepatitis infections by 90 per cent and deaths by 65 per cent.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 80 pc of people living with hepatitis can’t get the services they need to prevent, test for and treat the disease.
“On World Hepatitis Day, we’re calling for bold political leadership, with investments to match. We call on all countries to integrate services for hepatitis into benefit packages as part of their journey towards universal health coverage. By investing in diagnostic tests and medicines for treating hepatitis B and C now, countries can save lives and reduce costs related to the long-term care of cirrhosis and liver cancer that result from untreated hepatitis,” said Ghebreyesus.WHO, in an official statement, said that the Government of India, for example, has announced that it will offer free testing and treatment for both hepatitis B and C, as part of its universal health coverage plan. “This has been facilitated through the reduction in the prices of medicines. In India, a Hepatitis C cure costs less than USD 40 and a year of Hepatitis B treatment costs less than USD 30,” said the statement.
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