Dr. Devendra Desai, Consultant
Gastroenterology talks about the less discussed virus – Hepatitis and why we
need to act fast
Why
is hepatitis still largely an unknown health threat around the world?
The
threat of the Hepatitis virus is still very under played in many countries
including India. Although there are a number of initiatives being taken to
educate the masses on the deadly virus but more efforts have to be made at the
grass root level as well. An estimated 2 billion people worldwide have been
infected with hepatitis B virus and more than 360 million have chronic
(long-term) liver infections. About 6,20,000 people die every year as a result
of hepatitis B virus infection. A vaccine against hepatitis B has been
available since 1982. Some 150 million people are chronically infected with
hepatitis C virus, and more than 3,50,000 people are estimated to die from
hepatitis C-related liver diseases each year.
What
could be the approx. number of people infected with hepatitis virus in India?
There
are no clear data available on the number of people infected but then few
research surveys says that approximately 4% of the population in India is
affected by Hepatitis B virus and 0.2% is infected with Hepatitis C virus. Time
has come for Hepatitis to be taken up as a global issue like Cancer and
Aids.
Out
of the 5 different types of hepatitis, which are the deadly ones?
There
is no one particular Hepatitis virus that is more deadly that its peers. Any of
the Hepatitis viruses can be dangerous if not dealt with in the early stages.
Acute severe infection can be fatal.
Can
drinking alcohol lead to hepatitis?
Yes
and it is called as alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). It is
different than viral hepatitis. Alcoholic hepatitis can vary from mild with
only liver enzyme elevation to severe liver inflammation with development of
jaundice, prolonged prothrombin time, and even liver failure. Severe cases are
characterized by either obtundation (dulled consciousness) or the combination
of elevated bilirubin levels and prolonged prothrombin time; the mortality rate
in both severe categories is 50% within 30 days of onset.
Can
hepatitis be transmitted to an unborn child?
Yes,
the infection can be passed to newborn child during delivery.
What
is the average lifespan of someone with Hepatitis?
It
depends on the severity of the infection. The host factor is also
important. It is very important that one take vaccinations and prevent those
things that can bring in the virus.
Is
hepatitis a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?
Yes,
it is one of the routes for B and C.
What
are the different tests that a person should go to diagnose hepatitis?
There
is a battery of tests to diagnose infection, to know the quantity of virus, the
genotype of the virus etc. Liver disease due to hepatitis can be diagnosed by a
physical examination and examining the results of blood tests. There are
different types of tests for examination of specific Hepatitis virus. Read this
article in New York Times here on the different tests taken for Hepatitis:http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/hepatitis/diagnosis.html
What
are the vaccinations available for each type of hepatitis virus?
At
present vaccine is available only for Hepatitis A and B viruses.
How
can hepatitis virus be prevented?
For
water borne viruses i.e. A and E proper water supply and improvement in sanitation.
For the viruses transmitted by parenteral routes ( B and C), , screening of
blood and blood products, use of barrier contraception (mainly useful for
hepatitis B) vaccinations for hepatitis B virus
What
are the possible initiatives government can do to curb the hepatitis
virus?
The
government can do a lot when it comes to educating the masses on preventing
hepatitis and taking vaccinations. Make vaccination of hepatitis B as a first
step. Then improvement of sanitation is a major step.