Generating a large-scale public-awareness can be the crucial means of preventing hepatitis viruses particularly B and C as those are gradually taking a heavy toll on society and the nation as well.Disseminating their expertise medical practitioners here mentioned infection of the viruses as fire without flame and a silent killer. They put emphasis on the need of collective efforts to address the transmission of the viruses.
Dr Mahbubur Rahman Khan, Professor of Department of Medicine in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), said hepatitis B virus is a common problem for the society and its treatment is continuously changing and improving.
Talking to BSS here he mentioned that the number of liver patients is increasing in our society for lack of knowledge about prevention of liver diseases. He said jaundice, bleeding, weight loss and severe itching are the last stage of liver disease caused by the hepatitis viruses.
Dr Mahbubur Rahman Khan viewed transmission of the viruses takes place through mainly blood, sharing needles or other injecting equipment, vaccination, IV infusion, contaminated dental and surgical instruments, sharing razor blades or toothbrushes, IV drug abuse, piercing and sexual
contact.
Besides, old age, male sex, obesity, virus genotype, viral load, fatty liver, alcohol ingestion, co-infection with other viruses and stage of fibrosis, especially F3, F4 are the major risk factors for the virus
transmission.
Many of people can prevent the disease if he or she maintains something like healthy balanced diet, consumption of more fruits and vegetables, normal weight, regular exercise, avoid alcohol, drinking lots of water to help flush out toxins, positive attitude and avoid high doses of vitamins A, D, E, K.
“We have no way but to raise stimulating awareness about different forms of hepatitis and various methods of prevention and treatment,” he said and adding that importance should be given to creating awareness among people to prevent the ‘silent killer’.
DR Harun-Or- Rashid, associate professor of Hepatology of RMCH, said the majority of people infected with hepatitis are unaware, undiagnosed and untreated due to lack of awareness.
Emphasizing the need of increasing awareness, he said despite its staggering toll on health, hepatitis remains a group of diseases that are largely unknown, undiagnosed and untreated hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, an irritation or swelling of the liver cells.
DR Harun said hepatitis viruses- A, B, C, D and E-can cause acute and chronic infection and inflammation of the liver, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. So, there is no alternative to prevent the viruses with collective efforts, reports BSS from Rajshahi.
