NAWABSHAH, July 11: The number of hepatitis patients has increased by 20 per cent in the district as compared to the last year. Figures collected by this correspondent from the People's Medical College Hospital revealed that the number of deaths caused by had also increased.

It was found that 20 patients including women suffering from Hepatitis-B and C, hepatic coma and cirrhosis were admitted to the hospital. Assistant professor Dr Saleem Faiz said that about 1,000 patients suffering from various kinds of hepatitis were admitted to the PMC hospital in year 2003 out of which 250 expired.

He said that about 600 patients suffering from hepatitis were admitted to the medicine ward from Jan 2004 till date, of which about 200 were expired. He said that 1-2 patients expire due to hepatitis and growth and death rate had increased upto 20 per cent as compared to last year.

To a question, he informed, that Hepatitis-B was a virus which could not be transmitted through food, water or contaminated clothes but only through blood. About Hepatitis-C, he said, that it could also be transmitted through blood transfusion.

About hepatic coma, he informed, that when liver fails working, certain toxic materials reached brain and caused coma. The death ratio was 90 per cent. Cirrhosis was complication of continuation of hepatitis B and C.

He said that it was a pre-cancer condition and no treatment was available for the condition worldwide. As majority of population was poor and was unable to reach to good doctors and they feel prey to quacks.

These quacks (about 1,000 quacks according to EDO health) working in the various parts of the district were the main cause of spread of the disease as they did not use disposable syringes and instruments.

There is no check of the health department and dozens of blood banks are working opposite the PMC hospital and selling unscreened blood. Dr Faiz said that there was no system of general screening or vaccination available in government hospitals and they only treat patients symptomatically.

A medical practitioner, Dr Ghaffar Rathore, said that he was getting 2-3 patients of Hepatitis virus daily and those who were brought in coma were referred to the PMC hospital.

He said that quacks were mainly responsible for the spread of Hepatitis as they use glass syringes. It was suggested by doctors that the government like in other countries should provide free disposable syringes and bound users to destroy them after use. All blood banks should be regularly inspected to assess procedure of blood collection and transfusion.