In commemoration of ‘World Hepatitis Day’ on July 28, Zion Hospital and Research Centre (ZHRC) Dimapur held an awareness program and free detection camp for Hepatitis B and C sponsored by MSD Fulford (India) Limited on Tuesday.
MD, DM, gastroenterologist ZHRC, Dr. Talimoa Longkumer while presenting a paper on Hepatitis said 80% of Indians suffer from Hepatitis and 170 million people worldwide are infected with the virus where approximately 12,000 people die every year from Hepatitis C related liver disease.
While enlightening the gathering on the disease, Longkumer said Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver which is contagious and often caused by RNA and DNA viruses.
He said both Hepatitis B and C are classified as “acute” infection and “chronic” infection where the former is a short term illness that occurs within first 6 months after a person is exposed to Hepatitis B or C virus, while chronic virus infection is a long term illness that takes place when the Hepatitis B or C virus remains in a person’s body causing serious liver problems like liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer.
Dr. Tali said Hepatitis B virus is spread through blood, semen or other body fluid that are transmitted from an infected body to a healthy or uninfected person, from an infected mother to her baby, through sex with an infected partner, sharing of needles, syringes or other drug-injection equipment, sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person, sharing food that has been pre-chewed by an infected person, direct contact with blood or open sores of an infected person and exposure to blood from needle-sticks or other sharp instruments whereas Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. It also spreads through sharing of needles, blood transfusions and organ transplants although uncommon outbreaks of Hepatitis C also occurs from blood contamination in medical settings. The symptoms of Hepatitis B and C are fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-coloured bowel movements, joint pain, and jaundice.
Hepatitis B symptom appears after 90 days from the day of exposure or between 6 weeks and 6 months after the exposure, whereas in Hepatitis C, the symptoms appears from 2 weeks to 6 months after the exposure.
Longkumer also revealed that symptoms of chronic Hepatitis C can take up to 30 years to develop and that many people infected with Hepatitis C are unaware they have the virus. However he declared that even if infected people have mild or no symptoms, the virus could be detected in the blood and often are a sign of advanced liver disease.
He also advised persons who get exposed to Hepatitis B virus to get vaccinated by a vaccine or shot called Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG) within 24 hours in order to prevent infection.
He also cautioned that people having sex with infected partners, having multiple sex partners, having sexually transmitted disease, man having sexual contact with other man, sharing needles or syringes, living with person who has chronic Hepatitis B, infants born to infected mother, hemodialysis patients are at greater risk of Hepatitis B and further, recommended infants, adolescents who are yet to get vaccinated to do so if they wish to be free from Hepatitis B virus. He also recommended those shared needles or syringes to inject illegal drugs both in the past and present, HIV infected person, people having abnormal liver tests or liver diseases, those who received/donated blood or organs before 1992 and people who are on hemodialysis to get themselves tested for Hepatitis C.
Longkumer also disclosed that around 2000 were screened at ZHRC out of which 3% have been declared positive for Hepatitis B and at the same time added that the hospital does not have any data on Hepatitis C. The gathering was also informed about HIV and AIDS and STD by Dr. E. Mhabemo Ovung, MD dermatologist ZHRC. One of the representatives of MSD said that during the screening test, if any result is declared positive, then it is sent to Delhi for confirmation, following which, the result is declared after a week since the screening test.
It may be mentioned that free detection camp for Hepatitis B and C was held at the premises of ZHRC where patients visiting the hospital availed the test. The awareness programme was attended by students of Delhi Public School (DPS) and doctors.
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