11 October 2004	Monday	25 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 10: Medical experts on Sunday underlined the need for vaccinating the entire population against Hepatitis B, especially the newborns, to contain the disease from spreading.

The experts were speaking at a seminar on liver diseases, organised by the Dow University of Health Sciences on Sunday. It was attended by family physicians and the general public for promoting awareness about liver diseases including all strains of hepatitis from A to E, and their preventive measures.

Chairman of the Medicine Department, Aga Khan University Prof Dr Waseem Jaffery discussing the prevalence and prevention of hepatitis A to E said the prevalence rate of the virus of each type in Pakistan was five per cent.

He said Hepatitis A was caused by contaminated water and substandard eatables which included unpeeled vegetables. He said that Hepatitis A virus mostly affected the paediatric population. "About 90 per cent of our population have had previous exposure during childhood," he said.

He cautioned that vaccines for Hepatitis B should not be re-started but continued from the missed dose. Dr Abdul Nadir representing the USA Phoenix, in his presentation about the prevalence of hepatitis in various parts of Pakistan, said various studies on the hepatitis virus had revealed the alarming rise of Hepatitis C in Pakistan due to non-availability of its vaccine.

He identified that addicts who shared syringes become patients of hepatitis A, B and C. "Dentists on roadsides who reuse syringes after sterilization also spread the disease." He called upon private and public sector hospitals to dispose of their hospital waste in a proper and scientific way to prevent their reuse.

Dr S.M. Muneer from the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre said that if a mother is a Hepatitis B patient, her would-be child could be a Hepatitis B carrier, therefore, it was very essential to get women vaccinated during pregnancy.

He said Hepatitis B was curable, adding treatment was even available for chronic patients. Dr Shahab Abid from the Aga Khan University spoke on the side effects of various allopathic and herbal medicines especially those containing heavy metals. "Heavy metals like Arsenic cause harm to the liver," he cautioned.

The Director of Sarwar Zuberi Liver Centre of DUHS, Dr Rana Masood, said that during her last 20 years at the Civil Hospital Karachi, at least one patient of hepatitis had been admitted daily and 90 per cent of them come for treatment when they reach the final stage.

Other patients, she said, wanted assurance of their 100 per cent recovery before starting treatment. Besides, a certain percentage simply avoided treatment to escape side effects of medicines. - APP