The Grim Picture

Dr Nitin Pai,Head of the Department of Gastroenterology,Ruby Hall Clinic,says,“Hepatitis implies inflammation of the liver. The liver is one of the largest and most important organs in our body. It stores fats,sugars,vitamins and other nutrients that your body needs to keep going. It serves as the body’s internal chemical power plant. It also helps the body get rid of toxins and infections from the blood.”

One of the most common causes of this inflammation are the Hepatitis viruses A,B,C and E. Viral hepatitis B and C are transmitted by contaminated needles,transfusion of blood or blood products which are not screened and by unprotected sex. Hepatitis B can be also transmitted from mother to child at the time of child birth.

In India Hepatitis B affects 2-5 per cent of population and Hepatitis C affects 1-5per cent of population (20 million people). Hepatitis C virus once contracted becomes chronic in 70-85 per cent of cases. The severity of liver disease varies from one person to the other. Some may have minimal damage or no damage to liver,whilst in a subsetof patients over next 20 to 30 years; it progresses to cirrhosis,liver failure and liver cancer.

“The most effective means of preventing hepatitis C is to avoid contact with human blood,” adds Dr Lalit Shimpi,Consultant Hepatologist at Jehangir Hospital. “Do not inject illegal drugs and do not sharetoothbrushes,razors or other items that might have blood on them,” he adds.

“Treatment of acute viral hepatitis and chronic viral hepatitis are different. Treatment of acute viral hepatitis involves relieving symptoms and maintaining adequate intake of fluids. Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis involves medications to eradicate the virus and taking measures to prevent further liver damage,” Shimpi points out.

On a larger national scale,the introduction of a national screening programme for Hepatitis B will allow doctors to step in early,where they can treat the virus and save people’s lives. Including the Hepatitis B vaccination in the National Immunisation programme will also go a long way in preventing our children from this life threatening infection,doctors point out.