<p> City doctors have dispelled several myths about Hepatitis, a common disease in India. The World Hepatitis Day was observed on Tuesday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>At least four per cent of the country’s population is affected by the disease, according to Dr Lakshmana Kumar, gastroenterologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal. <br /><br />He said that among the common misconceptions is the thinking that hepatitis and jaundice are the same. He said that all viral hepatitis infections did not spread in the same manner. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E spread by eating food or drinking water contaminated by the virus and that one could also be infected by touching objects contaminated by the virus. <br /><br />However, Hepatitis B and C are spread through direct contact with infected blood or body fluid. He said Hepatitis B infection was not treatable, but it could be managed with medication and appropriate medical intervention. <br /><br />According to the World Health Organisation, globally, viral Hepatitis kills 4,000 people every day. Each year an estimated 1.5 million people die due to Hepatitis, which includes deaths by liver cancer and cirrhosis. <br /><br />Nearly one third of the global Hepatitis deaths occur in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR). India alone has 40 million people living with chronic Hepatitis B infection. Around 60 per cent of people living with HIV are co-infected with Hepatitis, with increased risk of complications and deaths. <br /><br />Promotion initiatives <br /><br />In a media statement, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO SEAR, said that health promotion initiatives need to be strengthened and people made aware of how they risk contracting Hepatitis and what they need to do protect themselves and their families from the viruses. <br /><br />“There is a need for awareness among health administrators, policymakers and medical professionals. The health sector needs to strengthen disease surveillance systems, ensure injection and patient safety, reliably and systematically screen all blood products, ensure strict adherence to the new WHO injection safety guidelines and improve infant vaccination rates, including birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of delivery,” she said. <br /><br /></p>
<p> City doctors have dispelled several myths about Hepatitis, a common disease in India. The World Hepatitis Day was observed on Tuesday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>At least four per cent of the country’s population is affected by the disease, according to Dr Lakshmana Kumar, gastroenterologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal. <br /><br />He said that among the common misconceptions is the thinking that hepatitis and jaundice are the same. He said that all viral hepatitis infections did not spread in the same manner. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E spread by eating food or drinking water contaminated by the virus and that one could also be infected by touching objects contaminated by the virus. <br /><br />However, Hepatitis B and C are spread through direct contact with infected blood or body fluid. He said Hepatitis B infection was not treatable, but it could be managed with medication and appropriate medical intervention. <br /><br />According to the World Health Organisation, globally, viral Hepatitis kills 4,000 people every day. Each year an estimated 1.5 million people die due to Hepatitis, which includes deaths by liver cancer and cirrhosis. <br /><br />Nearly one third of the global Hepatitis deaths occur in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR). India alone has 40 million people living with chronic Hepatitis B infection. Around 60 per cent of people living with HIV are co-infected with Hepatitis, with increased risk of complications and deaths. <br /><br />Promotion initiatives <br /><br />In a media statement, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO SEAR, said that health promotion initiatives need to be strengthened and people made aware of how they risk contracting Hepatitis and what they need to do protect themselves and their families from the viruses. <br /><br />“There is a need for awareness among health administrators, policymakers and medical professionals. The health sector needs to strengthen disease surveillance systems, ensure injection and patient safety, reliably and systematically screen all blood products, ensure strict adherence to the new WHO injection safety guidelines and improve infant vaccination rates, including birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of delivery,” she said. <br /><br /></p>
