World Hepatitis Day: Expert urges on prevention
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Hepatitis Day today, a public health physician at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin, Dr Eseigbe Efe has urged health workers and individuals to prevent the infectious disease by getting vaccinated.
Viral hepatitis is a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic liver disease and killing more than 1.4 million people every year, mostly from hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
The World Health Organization estimates that only 5 per cent of people with chronic hepatitis know of their infection, and less that 1 per cent have access to treatment.
Viral hepatitis is the seventh leading cause of death worldwide, and causes more deaths than AIDS, tuberculosis, and even road injuries.
Dr Efe said, hepatitis A and E are usually transmitted through contaminated food and water while, B, C and D are transmitted through blood and body fluids.
“Hepatitis B and C can cause serious problems as they can stay in the liver for long periods or years and cause scaring of the liver and possibly liver cancer
“All of these Hepatitis viruses are usually cleared by the body’s immune system. But B and C may persist over years to cause scaring and possibly cancer of the liver which almost always kills victims except they can quickly get a liver transplant which is very expensive, so prevention is usually advised.”
Explaining further, the expert said, Hepatitis B virus is sexually transmitted. “Many people only check for HIV status of their partners without checking for Hepatitis B and even medical workers are at risk, so prevention is always better than cure
.
“For Hepatitis B, the vaccine is available and in some places free. The vaccine is taken three times on the first date, one month later, and six months from the first date and provides protection for life according to research research. Hepatitis B vaccine is part of the routine vaccine for babies, once the person is screened to be negative he/she can take the vaccine at a health facility.”
Adding, he said, “But If people notice constant weakness, yellow colouration of eyes, fever, upper right abdominal pain, very deep yellow urine, they should visit their doctor.”
He advised individuals to practice safe sex, avoid sharing sharp objects.
World Hepatitis Day is marked July 28, to highlight the global burden of disease and efforts to combat viral hepatitis around the world.
