Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: As the country marks the World Hepatitis Day, the number of patients suffering from the disease has risen to 17 million.

Along with the rest of the world, Pakistan observes the World Hepatitis Day on July 28 every year. The purpose of commemorating the day is to raise awareness about prevention, control and treatment of the deadly disease.

Despite government efforts, the number of patients suffering from the disease continues to rise. When compared to other countries, the ratio of the disease in Pakistan is almost double. Health experts have termed the figures alarming.

There are three different hepatitis strains: A, B, C, D, and E. Talking to Daily Times, Shifa International Hospital (SIH) hepatitis specialist Dr Shahzad Khan Siddiqui said that all forms of the disease had their own negative impacts. “Hepatitis A and E are entirely different from B, C and D,” he said.

He said that the virus of Hepatitis A and E was usually contracted from eating tainted foods, drinking water and other such items.

“People contract the disease when they drink contaminated water or food that has been touched by the person who has Hepatitis A or E,” he said.

Talking about the symptoms of Hepatitis A and E, Dr Siddiqui said that usually such a patient suffered from weight loss, pain on the right side of the abdomen, under the rib cage and intermittent fever.

“If someone experiences such symptoms consecutively for 2 to 7 weeks, he should get himself screened,” he said.

Dr Siddiqui said that the number of hepatitis patients was increasing at an alarming rate. “Mostly people from poor background fall victim to the disease. They are also more likely to go for herbal and other untested methods of treatment,” he said.

“Such patients should drink plenty of water and juices to avoid dehydration. Moreover, they should also eat a healthy mix of foods and avoid drinking alcohol,” he said.

Another doctor in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said that the virus of Hepatitis B, C and D was usually transferred through blood transfusion, use of unsterilised medical equipment in hospitals and unsafe sexual contact.

The doctor said that besides precautionary measures, the patients should get proper treatment. “Any delay might cause serious damage to the liver and other organs,” he said.

According to information obtained from PIMS Hepatitis Department, around two and half thousand Hepatitis C patients sought treatment at the hospital every year. During the current year, 2,300 new Hepatitis C patients started receiving treatment from the hospital.

“Almost 80 percent of the patients cannot afford the treatment on their own. Their treatment is being financed by the Pakistan Baitul Maal. The total number of patients who have been treated at PIMS for Hepatitis C so far is around 25,000,” he said.

He further said that around 1,500 patients who visited the hospital were experiencing bleeding problems. “We provide them with medicines and carry out endoscopy procedures on such patients. Around 1,800 patients suffer from complications of Hepatitis B, including loss of consciousness,” he said.

According to an estimate, around 500,000 hepatitis patients die annually in the country. Around 400 people lose their life due to hepatitis every day. Every 10th person is infected with hepatitis. The World Hepatitis Day was observed for the first time in 2008 by World Hepatitis Alliance in collaboration with patient groups. Following the adoption of a resolution during the 63rd World Health Assembly in May 2010, the World Hepatitis Day was given global endorsement. Currently, the day is being marked in over 100 countries of the world.

Published in Daily Times, July 28^th , 2017.