‘AM I Number 12’

A special Hepatitis detection camp was organised at Dhavan’s Jeevandeep Hospital,Chandigarh for awareness about Hepatitis. Dr Sandeep Dhavan,a gastroentrologist and liver specialist from the region,elaborated that Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver and common causes include infection by any of the viruses — Hepatitis A,B,C,D or E. These can cause acute disease with symptoms lasting several weeks and some patients also develop chronic disease,which can eventually cause liver cancer or cirrhosis which can be fatal. Chronic Hepatitis B and C affect over 500 million people globally,15 times as many as HIV/AIDS cases. May 19 is recognized as World Hepatitis Day,an event spearheaded by World Hepatitis Alliance to raise public awareness about Hepatitis B and C. The theme of the campaign for 2009 is Am I Number 12,to highlight that approximately 1 in 12 of world population has chronic Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection.

As for the symptoms of these infections,Dr Dhavan highlighted that although yellowing of eyes and skin,nausea,vomiting,extreme fatigue,abdominal pain are common symptoms,many people don’t show symptoms for decades. For prevention,Dr Dhavan stressed on vaccination against Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A,maintaining monogamous relationship,not sharing needles,

syringes,toothbrushes. New drugs and Interferon are show promise in treating chronic Hepatitis B and C.