Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission recently launched a free hepatitis vaccination campaign to mark the sixth World Hepatitis Day (2013).
"Initiative for Needle Stick Injury Prevention in Healthcare Workers" campaign was launched by Ahluwalia in New Delhi.
On this World Hepatitis Day 2013, we look at some of the facts and figures that make Hepatitis one of the deadliest diseases. And also we will see how to prevent oneself from Hepatitis.
Around 1.4 million people die every year due to Hepatitis in the world. Nearly 96, 000 people in India die due to this disease.
The reasons behind the rise in number of Hepatitis case vary from use of infected injections to the use of unsterilised medical equipment to unsafe blood transfusions to contaminated food and contaminated water.
Infected injections are the major cause of the spread of this disease in India. Unhygienic use of needles is being carried out in acupuncture and tattooing. Nearly two-thirds of the injections used are unsafe.
One other factor, especially in Indian men that leads to this disease is the use of razor for shaving. Cuts are very frequent during shaving the blood may dry, but the virus can live for a week. In Indian saloons, most of the time a razor is used for the shaving of 2-3 people. It is strictly advised not to share the razor.
There are 5 types of Hepatitis viruses:
Hepatitis A: is caused mostly due to contaminated food and water.
Prevention: This disease is caused due to the ingestion of unhealthy food. A person must take extreme care of what he/she eats. Unpacked or unsealed food or drinks must be avoided at all cost. Street food must be avoided. Boiled or filtered water must be used.
Symptoms: Inflamed liver, no appetite, jaundice, nausea, vomiting and fever.
Vaccine for Hepatitis A is easily available. It can be taken by anyone above the age of one. Two doses are given at a time, six months apart. It can protect you for at least 20 years.
Hepatitis B: is mostly caused through blood, saliva, unprotected sex and from the mother to the foetus. Tattooing with unsterilised needles is another cause behind this disease.
Prevention: Use of sterilized injections, new razors and condoms during sex is advised.
Symptoms: Frequent stomach pain, skin rashes and dark urine.
Vaccine for Hepatitis B is given to newborn babies within 72 hours of birth. Three injections can be given at the ages of zero, one and six. Protection will last for 25 years.
Hepatitis C: is mostly caused by blood-to-blood infection. Tattooing with unsterilised needles is another cause behind Hepatitis C.
Prevention: Use of sterilized injections is advised.
Symptoms: Poor appetite, jaundice, nausea, disturbed sleep and depression.
Vaccine for Hepatitis C: No vaccine is available at the moment.
Hepatitis D: occurs to people already suffering from Hepatitis B. HDV (Hepatitis D Virus) can only propagate in the presence of the HBV (Hepatitis B virus).
Symptoms: Fatigue, vomiting, slow fever, dark urine and light stool.
Vaccine for Hepatitis D (same as for Hepatitis B): is given to newborn babies within 72 hours of birth. Three injections can be given at the ages of zero, one and six. Protection will last for 25 years.
Hepatitis E: is caused mostly due to contaminated food and water.
Prevention: This disease is caused due to the ingestion of unhealthy food. A person must take extreme care of what he/she eats. Unpacked or unsealed food or drinks must be avoided at all cost. Street food must be avoided. Boiled or filtered water must be used.
Symptoms: Jaundice, appetite and weight loss, nausea, enlarged and tender liver.
Vaccine: No vaccine is available at the moment.
Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections go undetectable for decades and are termed as silent diseases.
Hepatitis can be cured at an early stage but at later stage this disease is irreversible.
More than 80% HCV patients and over 60% HBV patients are diagnosed at later stages, mainly due to lower awareness.
Dr. Amrendra Kumar (Gen. Surgeon/Physician) says "Hepatitis transmission through infected syringes is the basic caused behind the spread of this disease in India".
Immunization through vaccination is an effective prevention against Hepatitis.
There are various Immunization Program carried out by central and state government in India that provides free to low cost vaccination of this disease. Universal Immunization Program (UIP) provides Hepatitis B vaccine.
Auto-disabled (AD) syringes are used for vaccination. AD syringes are single use, self-locking syringes that cannot be used more than once.
World Hepatitis Day is observed to spread awareness among health workers, patients and the community, especially in the rural areas about the disease. Various activities and programs are organized countrywide to inform people about the adverse affect of the usage of infected syringe, razor, unprotected sex and blood transfusion.
Vaccination programs are carried out on this day as well.
In India, most of the death caused by Hepatitis occurs due to lack of awareness. Most of the people suffering from this disease so not know that they are infected and only at later stage it gets detected when the disease becomes irreversible.
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