LAHORE, April 17: Media could play an effective role in creating awareness about hepatitis which is claiming a large number of lives annually in the country mainly due to lack of knowledge about its causes among the masses.

Renowned gastroenterologist Dr Saeed Khokhar made this statement at a seminar on the “Role of Media in controlling hepatitis” at Alhamra under the auspices of the Society for the Welfare of Patients, on Thursday.

Provincial minister Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dareshak presided over the seminar while provincial minister Shaukat Ali Bhatti was the chief guest.

Dr Khokhar said Hepatitis A and E were caused by unhygienic conditions — contaminated water and impure food. Hepatitis A and E cause jaundice, but the body’s defence system cures it within two months. He said no medicine was required for Hepatitis A or E.

He urged the people not to go to quacks and hakims in case of jaundice. He said in case of Hepatitis B, only a few patients showed symptoms of jaundice while in most patients there were no symptoms at all, and the patient remained unaware of the disease.

Similarly, Hepatitis C has no symptoms, and the patient comes to know of it at a very late stage when it is almost incurable. —APP