Hep. B threat maximum in AP’s rural, tribal areas
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With World Hepatitis Day on July 28, it is sobering to consider that in Andhra Pradesh, the occurrence of Hepatitis B is seven to 11 per cent higher than the national average of four to five per cent. The high infection rate is mainly in the rural and tribal areas of coastal AP due to lack of awareness on hygiene, said Dr Manisha Bangar, chief consultant, hepatology and gastroenterology, Care Hospital, Banjara Hills.
Hepatitis B is a resilient virus and can easily spread through bodily fluids, including blood transfusion, and accounts for 10 per cent of the cases. Its transmission also occurs from pregnant mothers to infants and affects children between one and five years of age. “Hepatitis C accounts for 1.5 to 2 per cent of cases and often co-exists with HIV. Hepatitis A and E, which spread mainly thro-ugh contaminated food and water, usually manifests as jaundice and can take a serious turn in pregnant women,” she said.
Treatment of hepatitis varies depending on the type of virus, said Dr B. Ravishankar, a city gastroenterologist and hepatologist. A simple blood test can detect the presence of Hepatitis B and C. Vaccination (for Hepatitis B), awareness about which is still low, is important, especially for health care workers. “Weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, yellow urine and yellowish discoloration of eyes are the main symptoms of hepatitis,” he said. The non-viral causes of hepatitis, as a mixed infection with malaria, dengue, typhoid and leptospirosis, are also increasing in AP. It’s important that screening be done at all ages. “Screening of healthcare and community workers is very important as it takes several years for the virus to manifest,” he added.
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