KARACHI: Experts at a seminar on Thursday warned against the growing incidence of hepatitis in the country, which, they said, had become an epidemic with nearly 12 million people suffering from hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

The medical professionals were speaking at a seminar held at the Aga Khan University (AKU) to observe World Hepatitis Day under the theme ‘Hepatitis affects everyone, everywhere. Know it. Confront it.’

Dr Wasim Jafri, consultant gastroenterologist, AKU hospital, said that of the five hepatitis viruses — A B, C, D and E — the types B and C could be considered the most dangerous, as they accounted for 78 per cent of liver cancer cases.

Explaining the risk factors, Dr Jafri said that both hepatitis B and C could be transmitted through the use of tainted blood or blood products, the use of contaminated syringes during medical procedures or injection drug use.

“Among these, the re-use of contaminated syringes, blades and medical equipment is a major risk factor. Hepatitis B could also be transmitted from mother to infant at the time of birth or from an adult infected with the virus caring for the baby through unobvious means such as a small cut.

Hepatitis A and hepatitis E, according to Dr Rustam Khan, consultant gastroenterologist, are prevalent predominantly in developing countries and are spread through contaminated food or water.

“In Pakistan, most hepatitis A and E cases occur during summer and monsoon.

Fortunately, these infections subside after a few weeks except acute hepatitis E in pregnant women which could lead to serious, at times, fatal consequences,” he said, adding that hepatitis D was the strangest of the five viruses, as it required theperson to be infected with the type B virus to cause an infection.

Highlighting the importance of prevention, Dr Khan said that the use of properly sterilised syringes and surgical instruments, avoiding sexual contact with those known to carry the virus, and ensuring that blood and blood products being used havebeen properly screened were essential in controlling the spread of both HBV and HCV.

Hepatitis A and E could be controlled by using boiled water for drinking and washing hands properly after using the toilet.

Dr Saeed Hamid, consultant gastroenterologist, AKUH, said that vaccines for both hepatitis A and B vaccines were easilyavailable and were more than satisfactory in protecting against the infection.

Early intervention was critical to treating hepatitis B and C, he said.

Speaking on diagnostic facilities for hepatitis, Dr Erum Khan, consultant microbiologist, AKU, said that a number of tests like liver function tests, good sensitivity serological tests and advanced technology tests like polymerase chain reaction were essential in diagnosing the disease as well as monitoring the treatment’s response.

“The availability of these tests outside urban centres is a concern and many people do not have the resources to travel to larger cities to get tested,” she said.

SIUT event

A public awareness programme on hepatitis was organised at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT).

The programme included a lecture, a question-answer session, a video presentation and screening for hepatitis B and C.

Speaking on the subject, SIUT director Prof Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi said that hepatitis had emerged as a major health problem and needed urgent measures for prevention and control.

“One in 12 people worldwide are living with either chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C. If left untreated, hepatitis B and hepatitis C could cause cirrhosis of the liver or even liver cancer.

“In delayed cases, patients could end up with complications such as vomiting of blood, accumulation of water in the body andattacks of unconsciousness,” he said.

Walk

A walk to create awareness about hepatitis C was held at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. The event attended by over 500 SMC students was organised by the Sindh Medical College (SMC) Alumni Association.