Even as the World Hepatitis Day (July 28) was observed on Wednesday, Dr Manoj Sahu, Head of Gastroenterology Department, IMS & SUM Hospital working towards eradication of hepatitis claimed that Hepatitis B could spread faster than the dreaded infection of HIV but could be managed to great extent if diagnosed early.
The theme for this year’s Hepatitis Day was ‘Hepatitis Can’t Wait’ to create awareness on the degree of threat the viral disease causes to human beings and ways to boost awareness on the issue through healthy dialogues.
On the eve of the day, Dr Sahu also visited the Puri sea beach and worked with sand artists in the area to create sand art to convey the message on awareness on hepatitis through simple communication means.
“Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV. Data suggest that globally one person loses life to hepatitis every 30 seconds. It poses a great threat to the public health. Hepatitis is known to trigger cirrhosis of liver and cancers,” Dr Manoj Sahu said.
Hepatitis generally refers to the inflammation of the liver either due to infections or even without it. There are different types of hepatitis like Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E which cause viral hepatitis. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are treated as the causes of concerns and more threatening to human health.
Dr Sahu explained that Hepatitis A and E infections are transmitted by ingestion of contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B, C and D spread by contact with blood and infected body fluids, the same way HIV enters the human body. They do not spread by sharing utensils, food or drinks, breastfeeding, hugging, coughing, and sneezing. “So, the infected people should not be discriminated against at home, at the workplace, in the hospital or in society,” he said.
He, however, lamented that the focus on hepatitis is still missing and said it needs more attention from policymakers as well as from the people at large.
“As the world celebrates the decreasing mortality from HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, our community rebukes the rising number of deaths from viral hepatitis, a staggering 1.1 million each year that has increased by 22% since 2000. There are 3 million new infections per year,” he said.
Dr Sahu said that approximately, 400 million people worldwide infected with Hepatitis B and C, if left untreated, would have liver cirrhosis and other deadly complications, including liver cancer, liver failure and premature death.
“Most people who are infected with Hepatitis B or C are unaware of their infection as they don’t have any symptoms initially. It is scary that 95% of people living with viral hepatitis remain unaware that they are carrying a deadly infection and unknowingly transmit the infection to healthy people,” he said.
Dr Sahu said several forms of acute hepatitis could not do much harm and could be prevented with better hygiene while for Hepatitis B timely vaccination can prevent the population from acquiring the viral disease which in many cases also prove fatal.