“I CAN’T WAIT TO BE A PART OF A HEPATITIS-FREE WORLD”

This year, on World Hepatitis Day (28th July), all the healthcare organizations & associations worldwide are coming together to raise awareness towards this threatening disease.

With a new Campaign theme “I Can’t Wait” the World Hepatitis Alliance urges everyone to focus on emphasizing the importance of Testing & Treatment.

What is Hepatitis?
An inflammation of the Liver, Hepatitis is caused by a range of infectious viruses. The 5 main causative viruses for Hepatitis are known as types A, B, C, D & E. Most importantly, the B & C type often becomes a reason for chronic & severe liver diseases causing Liver Cirrhosis, Liver Cancer and Viral Hepatitis-related deaths.

Hepatitis awareness is important. But Why?
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 354 million people worldwide live with Hepatitis B or C. It is an eminent fact that a majority of this population, suffering from Hepatitis B or C, does not have access to proper testing and correct treatment.
In India, the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen is 3-4.2 % with over 40 million HBV carriers.

Hepatitis during Pregnancy. What is the Threat?

• When babies become infected with hepatitis B, they have about a 90% chance of developing a lifelong, chronic infection.
• All pregnant women should get a blood test for hepatitis B as part of their prenatal care.
• Hepatitis B can be easily passed from a pregnant woman with hepatitis B to her baby at birth. This can happen during vaginal delivery or a c-section.
• World Health Organization (WHO) recommends screening pregnant women infected with Hepatitis B virus for Hepatitis D virus.
• Hepatitis B immunoglobulin and Hepatitis B vaccine should be administered within 12 to 24 hours of birth to all babies of Hepatitis surface antigen positive (HBsAg) mothers or those with unknown/undocumented HBsAg status.

Prevention is better than Cure. How?
For infectious diseases, preventive measures are aimed primarily at reduction or elimination of transmission of the agent. Preventive measures for an infectious disease depend on its modes of spread. Various hepatitis viruses differ in their modes of transmission.

The Gastroenterologist and HPB Surgeons suggest that there are several preventive measures are effective against more than one hepatotropic virus due to the shared modes of transmission of various hepatitis viruses. These include:

• Water & Food Hygiene and Sanitation
• Safe injection practices
• Safe blood transfusion
• Safe sex practices
• Prevention of Mother-to-child transmission - Mother-to-child HBV transmission can be interrupted through administration of hepatitis B vaccine to newborn babies, beginning with the first dose within 24 hours of birth.
• Vaccines and immunoglobulins

Vaccination is the Key. When to take?

• WHO recommends that all infants receive the hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours.
• Followed by 2 or 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine at least 4 weeks apart to complete the vaccination series.
• Protection lasts at least 20 years and is probably lifelong.

You would be surprised to know that around 97% of chronic Hepatitis cases are unknown to them. Testing and treatment can help reduce liver damage and even prevent the progression of the disease, provided it is detected and treated early on.

Through informed action, together we can become a global force for change that empowers and unites countries to end this disease once and for all.

Common and early symptoms of hepatitis
If you are living with a chronic form of hepatitis, like hepatitis B and hepatitis C, you may not show signs until the damage impacts liver functioning. In difference, individuals with hepatitis may present symptoms shortly after contracting the virus of hepatitis and can be cure with immediate awareness and treatments.

Typical and early signs of infectious hepatitis contain:

• fatigue or tiredness
• flu-like symptoms
• dark colored urine
• pale stool
• pain in abdominal
• appetite loss
• unexplained loss of weight
• yellow eyes and skin, which may be indications of jaundice
• Fever
• pain in Joints
• Nausea and Vomiting

What we can do for you
We think that raising the voices for people suffering from hepatitis is the most effective method to raise awareness about the need for a cure and to fight stigma and discrimination. If you feel any of the above symptoms constantly and to know more you can visit KD Hospital - Best Multispeciality Hospital in Ahmedabad. We have a team of Best Gastroenterologists and Best Gastro Surgeons to resolve all your queries and can help you doing diagnosis and treatment.