KARACHI, June 3: Misconceptions about hepatitis are as damaging as the disease itself. While there is a dire need for doctors to educate themselves about the disease and adopt safe medical practices, the government must also fulfil its responsibility by creating awareness and regulating blood screening practices.
This was stated by speakers at a public awareness programme organised by the Pakistan Medical Association in collaboration with the Pakistan Society of Gastroenterologists on World Hepatitis Day at the PMA House on Saturday.
Giving a presentation on hepatitis C, Dr Saad Khalid Niaz, consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist, said that hepatitis had become a major problem in this part of the world and the public’s miseries were being compounded by the hazardous practices of quacks, openly doing business in every part of the city. In this situation, he said, it’s all the more necessary for the public to have the basic information about the various forms of hepatitis, their treatment and diagnosis so they can seek the right treatment.
“There are about seven to nine million hepatitis carriers in the country. Most of them don’t know they have the disease and that they are a risk for themselves as well as for others. Hepatitis C is a slow, progressive disease and can take from 10 to 40 years to affect the liver. It can damage the liver, but the damage can range from minimal to liver failure,” he said.
About the misconceptions about hepatitis C, he said the disease does not spread by physical contact like touching and hugging etc., or through using the bed sheets, towels, plates, cutlery etc., of an infected person.
There is no harm in maintaining a conjugal relationship, but those with more than one partner are at risk. Breast-feeding is safe and should be encouraged and treatment should be started after the mother stops nursing the baby, he added.
People who are at risk include those who have received blood transfusions, especially before regular blood screening for hepatitis C was started in the mid-90s. Patients on haemodialysis, medical professionals and anybody who uses non-sterile/reused injections, especially drug addicts, are also at risk.
Only 20 per cent of hepatitis patients get serious liver disease. Also, there are no dietary restrictions, except for those with very severe and complicated liver disease, he said.
He dispelled the impression that liver biopsy causes the spread of the virus and said that it’s necessary, since it is the only way to know the severity of the disease. In diagnosis, ultrasound is reliable only when the disease is at an advanced stage and to pick up complications.
“Not everybody needs treatment or is suitable for treatment. The only scientifically proven treatment of any benefit for eradicating the hepatitis C virus is an injection, Interferon, which is taken with tablets (Ribavirin). It can cure 60 to 80 per cent of patients. Treatment for the majority of patients in our country is for 6 months but can be for one year,” he said.
He also urged the government to play an active role in ensuring safer blood screening practices, while asking doctors to avoid blood transfusions if possible and the unnecessary use of injections. “If needed, use only properly screened blood and disposable syringes,” he said.
Dr Badar Faiyaz Zuberi, gastroenterologist and hepatologist, Dow University of Health Sciences, gave his presentation on hepatitis B. He said that the disease is preventable through vaccination and there are no side-effects of it. The acute case fatality rate from hepatitis B is 0.5 to 1 per cent, while the premature mortality rate from chronic liver disease is 15 to 20 per cent.
Nine out of 10 adults naturally get rid of the hepatitis B virus in their bodies after a few months. Up to 9 out of 10 babies born to infected mothers will end up being hepatitis B carriers for the rest of their lives if they do not get the shots. Nineteen out of 20 babies who get the shots will be protected for life.
Dr Hasnain Shah, Dr Abdul Rauf Memon and Dr Abu Talib, took part in the panel discussion.
