Half of gastro patients suffer from hepatitis

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

PIMS OPD survey
By Ikram Junaidi

ISLAMABAD: Over 50 percent gastroenterology patients seen in the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Pakistan Institute of Medical sciences (PIMS) are suffering from hepatitis, their overwhelming majority from hepatitis C.

Hospital sources told Daily Times that about 80 percent of gastroenterology patients, admitted in ward from OPD, are suffering from chronic liver diseases having complications like blood vomiting, water in the abdomen, infections and comma due to liver failure.

Hepatitis C was identified in 1989. WHO estimates that three percent of world population is infected with hepatitis C and around 170 million individuals are chronic carriers at the risk of developing liver cirrhosis (shrunken liver) and liver cancer. Approximately, 30,000 new acute infections and 8,000-10,000 deaths occur each year because of this disease. It has also become leading reason for liver transplantation.

Dr Waseem Khawaja, PIMS assistant director, said HCV virus bears no genomic resemblance to hepatitis B or D. Hepatitis B virus is present worldwide with an estimated 300 million carriers. Majority of its patients recover completely, he said, and some go on to develop chronic hepatitis and liver cancer or become asymptomatic carrier.

Hepatitis B and C viruses are transmitted through contaminated blood or blood products. Khwaja said, “Up to 50 percent of HCV cases are related to intravenous drug users who shared needles. The risk of sexual and maternal neonatal transmission is small. For healthcare workers, it is an occupational hazard requiring adherence to universal precautions.”

He said usually the patients with chronic liver disease are asymptomatic but sometimes one or more signs like jaundice, fever, loss of body hair, enlargement of parotid glands, heaviness of breasts, small or large liver, enlarged spleen, scratch marks on abdomen, ulcers on legs, swelling of legs at ankle joints, dilated veins on abdomen, water in abdomen, disorientation, drowsiness and coma are present.

He said people are advised to take certain precautions against hepatitis C and B as the causes of spread are same. For prevention from hepatitis B vaccination is available, he said. “All blood donors should be screened for hepatitis B and C virus. Voluntary blood donation should be encouraged because purchased blood has shown higher risk of post transfusion hepatitis. Complete sterilization of instruments be made sure. Carriers should have separate razors and tooth brushes and use barrier methods of contraception. They should not donate blood,” he said.

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