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World Hepatitis Day
Hepatitis B Vaccine is 95 Per Cent Effective if Given Early
“There are five different types of hepatitis, A through E, and the vaccine for hepatitis B should be given at an early age because it greatly reduces the chances of infection,” said Dr Wasim Jafri, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Aga Khan University. “The vaccine is up to 95 per cent effective, and is the best way of preventing the deadly risks associated with the disease.” He gave this advice at a public awareness programme to commemorate World Hepatitis Day while stressing that treatment after infection is costly and not always effective.
A n estimated 300 to 350 million people worldwide are carriers of hepatitis B which is the most serious of all the hepatitis viruses. It causes a number of chronic liver diseases – including cirrhosis that can lead to liver cancer – with two million people dying each year from the virus.
Dr Hasnain Ali Shah, Consultant Gastroenterologist, spoke on hepatitis A, a common disease in Pakistan that affects children predominantly. He mentioned that “most children have been exposed to this virus in the first decade of their life.” The virus is spread primarily through faeces-contaminated food and water, so washing hands after going to the bathroom and before preparing food is important to prevent the occurrence of this disease.
Hepatitis C, as explained by Dr Saeed Hamid, Medical Director and Consultant Gastroenterologist, can also cause liver damage, accounting for nearly 75 per cent of patients with chronic liver disease and 50 per cent with liver cancer. “The virus has a six per cent rate of prevalence in Pakistan, which means that approximately 10 to 11 million people are infected; although some parts of the country show up to 20 per cent prevalence. The numbers of those infected with HCV are increasing exponentially,” said Dr Hamid, adding that this is an urgent national issue that needs government attention.
Dr Khalid Mumtaz, Consultant Gastroenterologist, contributed to the seminar with information on delta hepatitis, or HDV, which has a higher rate of mortality. “ It is generally accepted that patients with chronic HDV and active liver disease should be treated and treated early, although the rate of success is low,” added Mumtaz.
Focusing on hepatitis in children, Dr S.Q. Nizami, Consultant Paediatrician AKU informed the audience that “ 90 per cent of babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis B become carriers if not vaccinated after birth; and of these, 25 per cent develop chronic liver disease including liver cancer.” He stressed that children should be given hepatitis A and B vaccines as early as possible.
Dr Shahab Abid, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Acting Chair Section of Gastroenterology, gave information about Hepatitis E. He said that Hepatitis E is the disease of the developing world. Pakistan is one of the leading places where this infection exists. A common source of this infection is contaminated water supply. Washing hands and drinking safe water offers the best prevention. Currently no vaccine is available for Hepatitis E.
As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment of creating awareness, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has organi s ed over 300 ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care' programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and the UAE, benefiting more than 50,000 people. Similarly, AKUH's Pat ient Welfare Programme reaches out to patients by providing assistance to those people who are unable to afford the medical cost of their treatment. 73 per cent of all patients treated at AKUH are from low- to middle-income areas. Since the inception of this welfare programme in 1986, Rs. 2 billion has been disbursed to more than 300,000 needy patients.
For further information, please contact:
Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi-74000.
Fax: 493 - 4294, 493 - 2095
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