Early Hepatitis-B vaccination reduces chances of infection

July 14, 2008

Sunday, July 13, 2008

By our correspondent

Karachi

The vaccine for Hepatitis-B (one of the five difference types of Hepatitis)

should be administered at an early age because it greatly reduces the chances of

infection, said Aga Khan University (AKU) Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Wasim

Jafri.

“The vaccine is up to 95 percent effective, and is the best way of preventing

the deadly risks associated with the disease,” he said during a public awareness

programme to commemorate World Hepatitis Day. Dr Jafri said that post-infection

treatment for Hepatitis proves costly and is not always effective.

An 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 which can lead to liver cancer.

Around two million people die each year from the virus.

Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Hasnain Ali Shah spoke about Hepatitis-A, a

common disease which predominantly affects children in Pakistan. “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,” Dr Ali said.

Medical Director and Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Saeed Hamid said that

Hepatitis-C can also cause liver damage, and accounts for nearly 75 percent of

patients with chronic liver disease and 50 percent with liver cancer. “The virus

has a six percent rate of prevalence in Pakistan. This means that approximately

10 to 11 million people are infected, although some parts of the country show up

to 20 percent prevalence. The numbers of those infected with HCV are increasing

exponentially,” Dr Hamid said, adding that this was an urgent national issue

that needed government attention.

Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Khalid Mumtaz spoke about delta hepatitis, or

HDV, which has a higher mortality rate. “It is generally accepted that patients

with chronic HDV and active liver disease should be treated early, although the

rate of success is low,” he said.

Focusing on hepatitis in children, AKU Consultant Paediatrician Dr S.Q. Nizami

and Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Shahab Abid also spoke on the occasion.

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