Hepatitis in 5 questions
Hepatitis is still a serious health problem that affects millions of people... So much so that more than 1 million people in the world die every year due to various diseases caused by hepatitis viruses. Here's what you need to know about hepatitis, which is such an important health problem...
More than 1 million people die every year due to various diseases caused by the hepatitis virus. Hepatitis, which affects 350 million people in the world, is still an important health problem that remains serious…
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, the number of lives lost due to viral hepatitis is increasing day by day. So much so that hepatitis ranks second in deaths caused by infectious diseases in the world. Data from 187 countries shows the estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis rising to 1.3 million in 2022. As a matter of fact, while 3,500 people die worldwide due to Hepatitis B and C infections, more than 6 thousand people are infected with hepatitis caused by the new virus.
WHO reports estimate that 254 million people will live with hepatitis B and 50 million people with hepatitis C in 2022. A study conducted in Turkey reveals that one in every three people over the age of 18 encounters the Hepatitis B virus.
In order to raise awareness about hepatitis, which is such an important health problem, July 28 is declared as "World Hepatitis Day" every year and various activities are carried out to raise public awareness. For this special day, we would like to thank Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital Gastroenterology Department Faculty Member Assoc. Dr. We sought answers to questions about hepatitis with Coşkun Özer Demirtaş.
1. What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is caused by factors such as viruses, alcohol and drugs. Hepatitis viruses are classically classified into 5 types. Hepatitis A, B and C virus infections are the most common. Hepatitis D and E infections are more rare.
2. Which type of hepatitis is transmitted by which means?
Hepatitis A and E are transmitted by consuming water and food contaminated with the virus, and hepatitis B and C are transmitted through blood, body fluids or sexually. If adequate sterilization measures are not taken, all kinds of invasive procedures performed on the body, such as tattooing, piercing, manicure, pedicure and dental operations, also cause the transmission of Hepatitis B and C infections.
3. What are the ways to prevent hepatitis?
It is possible to protect against Hepatitis A and B infection with vaccination. In Turkey, hepatitis B vaccine is routinely administered to all newborns at 0, 1 and 6 months. Thanks to this mandatory vaccination program, it is predicted that the frequency of hepatitis B infection will decrease significantly by 2030. Hepatitis A vaccine is administered in 2 doses at the 18th and 24th months. Adults and children who are found not to be immune to these viruses as a result of the test are also vaccinated with the same scheme. There is no vaccine for other types of hepatitis.
It is important to recognize hepatitis B and C infections, which can cause serious health problems, to increase awareness in society and to increase the number of hepatitis tests to protect them. Again, according to the test results, vaccinating uninfected people, facilitating access to treatment for infected people, increasing the immunity of newborns with vaccination, preventing transmission from mother to baby, using safe blood products and paying attention to sterilization in all kinds of interventional procedures are among the most important protection strategies.
In order to protect against Hepatitis A and E infection, general and hand hygiene should be taken into consideration, and attention should be paid to the cleanliness of drinking water and pool water.
4. Who is in the risk group for hepatitis?
Health and laboratory workers, people who frequently transfuse blood and blood products, intravenous drug addicts, hemodialysis patients, and people with any liver disease are in the risk group.
5. Can hepatitis be treated?
Hepatitis A and E infections can usually heal on their own without special treatment and can be eliminated from the body without leaving any damage to the liver or becoming chronic.
Hepatitis B and C infections can become chronic. It can even lead to cirrhosis and cancer in the liver in advanced stages. With one oral pill treatment per day for Hepatitis B, the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer can be significantly reduced by completely suppressing the virus in almost all patients.
For hepatitis C infection, the virus can be cleared from the body in all patients after 8-12 weeks of treatment with the new generation oral drug options available in our country since 2016. It is vital to recognize hepatitis B and C virus infections, which are still the most common causes of cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver transplantation in Turkey, early and treat them before they cause serious health problems such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
SOURCE: TRT NEWS