Viral Hepatitis Killing More People Than HIV, Malaria And TB

 

Sahin was prepared for the worst when she went to get screened for HIV. After caring for her mother, who died as a result of the HIV virus, hepatitis was far from her mind. “I was ready to be told I had HIV,” she says. “I felt, ‘That’s okay. I’ve looked up to my mother’.”

What she didn’t expect was to be diagnosed with a different viral infection altogether: hepatitis B. “The way the nurse delivered it to me, was as if,  ‘It’s worse than HIV’. I was confused, I was suicidal,” says Sahin. “I just didn’t understand what it was because no one ever talks about hep B — they talk about HIV.”

Hepatitis, or liver inflammation— is caused by a number of viruses A, B, C, D & E. Each of these viruses is different but they cause the same serious liver inflammation disease, which may lead to death.  In 2016, the number of deaths worldwide from viral hepatitis rose to 1.4 million, surpassing those from tuberculosis, HIV or malaria. Types B and C are responsible for the most deaths.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV), which spreads through blood and bodily fluids or via mother-to-child transmission, kill just under 1 million people every year around the world, mostly from cancer or scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver. Furthermore, hepatitis B is far more infectious, 50 to 100 times more than HIV. There are about 400 million chronic carriers worldwide, 75% of whom live in Asia.

Lack Of Awareness

As Sahin would later discover, hepatitis is also referred to as the silent epidemic because the carriers do not initially show symptoms. In some cases, the virus responsible can sabotage the liver’s function over years without causing noticeable problems, until this viral takeover eventually causes cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and eventually may lead to liver cancer.

By contrast, HBV is less malignant — as fewer adults develop chronic infections — but more widespread. It affects almost four times as many people as hepatitis C (HCV), and is more likely than HCV to spread from mother to baby during pregnancy or birth.

Yet, myths about how HBV is transmitted, including the notion that adults with the virus should be isolated, perpetuate the stigma of this infection. Although HBV may be passed sexually or via blood-to-blood contact, people are not at risk during casual contact. It’s good to note that  HBV isn’t passed by hugging, kissing, breastfeeding or drinking from the same glass. 

Hepatitis Vaccination Is Key 

There are safe and effective vaccines that can prevent hepatitis A and B (but not for types C, D, or E).  There is also a combination of hep A and B vaccine.

HBV is most commonly spread from mother to child at birth (perinatal transmission), or through horizontal transmission (exposure to infected blood), especially from an infected child to an uninfected child during the first 5 years of life. 

The development of chronic infection is very common in infants infected from their mothers or was infected before the age of 5 years. That is the reason why vaccination from infancy is so crucial to combat the hepatitis B particularly chronic hepatitis B. Additionally, HBV can still affect adults as the virus can survive outside the body for at least 7 days. 

Malaysia introduced the HBV vaccination program for children in 1989, whereas in Singapore, the program to cover all newborns was from 1987. The vaccine is 95% effective in preventing infection and the development of chronic disease and liver cancer due to HBV.

Administer HBV vaccine  to a child over three doses. According to the World Health Organization’s recommendations, give the first dose within 24 hours of birth, and subsequent shots to administer when the child turns one month old and finally, at six months old.

Preventive Measures 

In addition to vaccination, here are other simple ways to help prevent the spread of the virus :

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after any potential exposure to blood
• Use condoms with sexual partners
• Avoid direct contact with blood and bodily fluids
• Cover all cuts carefully
• Avoid sharing sharp items such as razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and earrings or body rings
• Discard sanitary napkins and tampons into plastic bags
• Avoid illegal street drugs (injecting, inhaling, snorting, or popping pills)
• Be sure to use new, sterile needles/equipment for ear or body piercing, tattoos, and acupuncture and even manicures/pedicures.
• Stay away from unclean food or water, sliced fruits, and food from street vendors to avoid the hep A virus.

Conclusion

Despite this being a vaccine-preventable disease, HBV is globally a public health burden as its prevalence puts people at risk of death. Hepatitis B vaccination at birth is highly effective to prevent chronic Hepatitis B infection. Protect yourself and family ensure everyone receives vaccination against Hepatitis B and C.

You can search, find, call, send enquiry or request for appointment with a GP/ Family Doctor on GetDoc:

Find a GP/Family Doctor in Malaysia, on GetDoc

Find a GP/Family Doctor in Singapore, on GetDoc

Tags

• hepatitis
• liver
• liver cancer