Most Hepatitis Patients Are Unaware They Have the Disease
Most Hepatitis Patients Unaware of Their Disease (28 July World Hepatitis Day)
Prof. Dr. Nail Özgüneş, Specialist in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Istanbul Okan Üniversitesi Hospital, states: "Today, more than 350 million people worldwide have chronic Hepatitis B infection, while the number of Hepatitis C patients is around 100 million.
It is accepted that approximately 80 percent of these hepatitis B and C patients are unaware of their disease."
A child thought to have contracted smallpox 450 years ago actually had Hepatitis B virus. However, this virus was first definitively identified in medical literature in 1967 in an Australian patient. Hepatitis D was identified in the 1970s, and Hepatitis C in 1989.
Viral hepatitis is classified as A, B, C, D, E…, of which B, C and D Hepatitis can "become chronic" and can unfortunately lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer years later.
Because the disease largely presents symptoms at a late stage and the vast majority of patients are unaware of their disease, 28 July has been designated as "World Hepatitis Day".
What Are These Viruses?
Hepatitis B and C should be the focus of the initiative. The cost of medications used by patients and the treatment expenses for cirrhosis or liver cancer that may develop if left untreated create health problems that affect countries' economies.
Hepatitis D Virus can only be a complete virus when B virus is present, therefore combating Hepatitis B is sufficient. It cannot cause infection in the absence of Hepatitis B. The transmission routes of Hepatitis D are similar to those of Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis A virus and Hepatitis E virus show similar clinical progression. Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated water and food and can lead to outbreaks. Its incidence in our country has greatly decreased as a result of improved hygiene, access to clean water sources, socioeconomic development, and hepatitis A vaccination programs that began in 2012.
Hepatitis E, although rare, presents itself particularly in pregnant women as severe acute viral hepatitis.
How Is Hepatitis B Transmitted?
• Through transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products,
• Through medical or dental procedures using non-sterilized surgical instruments,
• Through sharing used injectors,
• Through sharing items such as razors and toothbrushes, tattooing, acupuncture, piercing,
• Through household contact with Hepatitis B carriers and from mother to baby during childbirth,
• Through unsafe sexual contact.
Shared injector use, blood transfusion, and dental treatment are the leading causes of Hepatitis C transmission. Transmission through household and sexual contact is negligible. The incidence among healthcare workers does not differ from that in the general population.
Vaccination: The Most Effective Protection!
Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against Hepatitis B disease. It was added to the routine childhood immunization schedule in 1998. The incidence of acute Hepatitis B disease in both adults and children decreased between 2005-2009 through booster vaccinations in schools, risk group vaccinations, and the Hepatitis B Control Program within the "Expanded Immunization Program". However, cases of chronic hepatitis B still exist in the population.
There is currently no vaccine for Hepatitis C virus. However, with newly developed drugs, recovery rates above 95 percent are achieved in treatment. This means Hepatitis C can be eradicated. For this reason, early diagnosis of this silent disease is extremely important.
Many people wonder whether this disease is curable. It must be remembered that these two important diseases can be easily controlled and treated with one tablet per day.
