Uganda: Hepatitis B 100 Times Deadlier Than HIV

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http://allafrica.com/stories/201109191200.html

Uganda: Hepatitis B 100 Times Deadlier Than HIV

18 September 2011

TRANSMITTED in ways similar to those through which HIV is spread, Hepatitis B is

incurable and most sufferers do not show signs. The chronic form will gradually

progress to complications such as scarring of the liver, liver cancer and

chronic liver failure. Agnes Kyotalengerire reports.

Prevalence rates per region

Hellena Achan was diagnosed with Hepatitis B virus when she was 32 years old. " I

had a fever, headache, stomachache and my eyes turned yellow. A blood test

revealed Hepatitis B virus, " she recalls.

Achan, now 35, and a mother of two, was fortunate to get timely treatment.

Hepatitis B virus remains a serious global health problem, with two billion

people having ever been infected worldwide and 400 million still having the

chronic form of the infection.

Hepatitis B virus is the 10th leading cause of death worldwide.

Currently, it is estimated that 10% of the Ugandan population (about 3.3 million

people) has chronic Hepatitis B infection.

According to recent media reports, 10 people in Kitgum district were suspected

to have the virus.

Dr. Ponsiano Ocama, a lecturer and liver specialist at Makerere University

College of Health Science, observes that the distribution of the virus varies

from area to area, with the highest figures being recorded in northern Uganda,

where 20 to 24% of the population has chronic infection.

The lowest rate of about 4% has been registered in south-western Uganda. In

Kampala, the prevalence rate falls between 6 and 7%, Kasese at 10%, North

central (Gulu, Lira) is at 20%, West Nile at 19% and north-east at about 24% .

How it is spread

" Hepatitis B virus is found in blood and body fluids, " notes Dr.Ocama.

He says mother-to-child is the most common mode of transmission, with about 95%

of babies getting it at birth from an infected mother or within the first five

years of birth through the child-to-child mode, also referred to as the

horizontal transmission.

Other ways of transmission include sharing of sharp instruments, sexual contact

with an infected person and blood transfusion.

However, Ocama notes that a mother cannot infect the baby through breastfeeding

because there is a low concentration of the virus in breast milk, as well as in

sweat, urine and saliva. Also, touching or shaking hands of an infected person

cannot spread the virus.

Ocama warns against discriminating against people infected with the Hepatitis B

virus.

Signs and symptoms

" Over 95% of Hepatitis B virus patients do not show signs, " says Ocama.

He says when people get infected with the virus in early childhood, they may not

show symptoms for decades.

A few patients will develop symptoms in the acute phase of infection, which may

include fever, yellowing of the eyes, headache, joint pains and vomiting.

Hepatitis B may be mistaken for malaria. In most cases, these symptoms will

disappear on their own, but this does not mean that the virus is gone. A few

patients die in the acute phase.

Diagnosis is by blood tests. The tests can be done in commercial laboratories

around town. The results can be ready in about 10 minutes.

Health complications of Hepatitis B

Dr. Ocama describes Hepatitis B as a germ, which causes inflammation of the

liver.

Hepatitis B virus causes a serious liver disease and the virus is 100 times more

infectious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Once infected, there is an

approximately one in 10 chances that the body will not get rid of the virus.

At its most severe form, Hepatitis B can damage the liver permanently and even

kill. The chronic form will gradually progress to complications such as scarring

of the liver (cirrhosis), liver cancer and chronic liver failure. All these

conditions may present with abdominal pain, swelling of the belly and limbs,

mental confusion and vomiting of blood.

The liver is one of the vital organs in the body and it is involved in

processing most of the food we eat and keeping the blood healthy.

Is Hepatitis B virus curable?

Dr. Ssali Makumbi, the head of disease surveillance at the health ministry, says

there is no cure for Hepatitis B virus, but there are treatments, which can

suppress the virus and prevent the liver infection from spreading.

Some of the drugs are taken orally, while others are injectable.

" If infected, one should consult a doctor to inquire whether he/she needs

treatment because not every infected person requires treatment, " Makumbi

advises.

Prevention

Hepatitis B virus vaccines are effective.

" In 2002, the health ministry incorporated the Hepatitis B virus vaccination

into the infant immunisation schedule.

" So when the children grow into adults, they will be protected, " Makumbi

affirms.

He adds that on World Hepatitis Day, which is July 28, the Government launched a

national health workers' vaccination against the virus because they are

predisposed to infection.

" For effective protection, one requires three doses, " says Ocama.

He explains that the doses are taken in three phases; the first time, one month

later and at six months.

The Hepatitis B virus vaccine is available in pharmacies around town. A single

dose costs about sh20,000, with the entire dose costing sh60,000. The vaccine is

also available in government health centres.

Who is at risk?

Everyone who lives in areas with high prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (more than

8%) is prone. The other predisposed category include health workers because they

get in contact with many patients. People who get frequent blood transfusions,

for example, those with sickle cell anaemia and those whose partners are

infected are also at risk.

What you should do

Get tested for Hepatitis B. Ask your doctor for the Hepatitis B surface antigen

tests (HB sAg), which are not one of the standard blood tests done at routine

examinations.

Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Individuals who test negative for Hepatitis

and newborns should be vaccinated against the disease.

Get screened for liver cancer. Individuals who test positive for Hepatitis B

should be regularly screened for liver cancer beginning at the age of 30.

Get treated for Hepatitis B. There is no cure, but early treatment of the

infection can reduce the risk of further liver damage.

Use condoms if your partner has the virus.

[Guest guest]

http://allafrica.com/stories/201109191200.html

Uganda: Hepatitis B 100 Times Deadlier Than HIV

18 September 2011

TRANSMITTED in ways similar to those through which HIV is spread, Hepatitis B is

incurable and most sufferers do not show signs. The chronic form will gradually

progress to complications such as scarring of the liver, liver cancer and

chronic liver failure. Agnes Kyotalengerire reports.

Prevalence rates per region

Hellena Achan was diagnosed with Hepatitis B virus when she was 32 years old. " I

had a fever, headache, stomachache and my eyes turned yellow. A blood test

revealed Hepatitis B virus, " she recalls.

Achan, now 35, and a mother of two, was fortunate to get timely treatment.

Hepatitis B virus remains a serious global health problem, with two billion

people having ever been infected worldwide and 400 million still having the

chronic form of the infection.

Hepatitis B virus is the 10th leading cause of death worldwide.

Currently, it is estimated that 10% of the Ugandan population (about 3.3 million

people) has chronic Hepatitis B infection.

According to recent media reports, 10 people in Kitgum district were suspected

to have the virus.

Dr. Ponsiano Ocama, a lecturer and liver specialist at Makerere University

College of Health Science, observes that the distribution of the virus varies

from area to area, with the highest figures being recorded in northern Uganda,

where 20 to 24% of the population has chronic infection.

The lowest rate of about 4% has been registered in south-western Uganda. In

Kampala, the prevalence rate falls between 6 and 7%, Kasese at 10%, North

central (Gulu, Lira) is at 20%, West Nile at 19% and north-east at about 24% .

How it is spread

" Hepatitis B virus is found in blood and body fluids, " notes Dr.Ocama.

He says mother-to-child is the most common mode of transmission, with about 95%

of babies getting it at birth from an infected mother or within the first five

years of birth through the child-to-child mode, also referred to as the

horizontal transmission.

Other ways of transmission include sharing of sharp instruments, sexual contact

with an infected person and blood transfusion.

However, Ocama notes that a mother cannot infect the baby through breastfeeding

because there is a low concentration of the virus in breast milk, as well as in

sweat, urine and saliva. Also, touching or shaking hands of an infected person

cannot spread the virus.

Ocama warns against discriminating against people infected with the Hepatitis B

virus.

Signs and symptoms

" Over 95% of Hepatitis B virus patients do not show signs, " says Ocama.

He says when people get infected with the virus in early childhood, they may not

show symptoms for decades.

A few patients will develop symptoms in the acute phase of infection, which may

include fever, yellowing of the eyes, headache, joint pains and vomiting.

Hepatitis B may be mistaken for malaria. In most cases, these symptoms will

disappear on their own, but this does not mean that the virus is gone. A few

patients die in the acute phase.

Diagnosis is by blood tests. The tests can be done in commercial laboratories

around town. The results can be ready in about 10 minutes.

Health complications of Hepatitis B

Dr. Ocama describes Hepatitis B as a germ, which causes inflammation of the

liver.

Hepatitis B virus causes a serious liver disease and the virus is 100 times more

infectious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Once infected, there is an

approximately one in 10 chances that the body will not get rid of the virus.

At its most severe form, Hepatitis B can damage the liver permanently and even

kill. The chronic form will gradually progress to complications such as scarring

of the liver (cirrhosis), liver cancer and chronic liver failure. All these

conditions may present with abdominal pain, swelling of the belly and limbs,

mental confusion and vomiting of blood.

The liver is one of the vital organs in the body and it is involved in

processing most of the food we eat and keeping the blood healthy.

Is Hepatitis B virus curable?

Dr. Ssali Makumbi, the head of disease surveillance at the health ministry, says

there is no cure for Hepatitis B virus, but there are treatments, which can

suppress the virus and prevent the liver infection from spreading.

Some of the drugs are taken orally, while others are injectable.

" If infected, one should consult a doctor to inquire whether he/she needs

treatment because not every infected person requires treatment, " Makumbi

advises.

Prevention

Hepatitis B virus vaccines are effective.

" In 2002, the health ministry incorporated the Hepatitis B virus vaccination

into the infant immunisation schedule.

" So when the children grow into adults, they will be protected, " Makumbi

affirms.

He adds that on World Hepatitis Day, which is July 28, the Government launched a

national health workers' vaccination against the virus because they are

predisposed to infection.

" For effective protection, one requires three doses, " says Ocama.

He explains that the doses are taken in three phases; the first time, one month

later and at six months.

The Hepatitis B virus vaccine is available in pharmacies around town. A single

dose costs about sh20,000, with the entire dose costing sh60,000. The vaccine is

also available in government health centres.

Who is at risk?

Everyone who lives in areas with high prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (more than

8%) is prone. The other predisposed category include health workers because they

get in contact with many patients. People who get frequent blood transfusions,

for example, those with sickle cell anaemia and those whose partners are

infected are also at risk.

What you should do

Get tested for Hepatitis B. Ask your doctor for the Hepatitis B surface antigen

tests (HB sAg), which are not one of the standard blood tests done at routine

examinations.

Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Individuals who test negative for Hepatitis

and newborns should be vaccinated against the disease.

Get screened for liver cancer. Individuals who test positive for Hepatitis B

should be regularly screened for liver cancer beginning at the age of 30.

Get treated for Hepatitis B. There is no cure, but early treatment of the

infection can reduce the risk of further liver damage.

Use condoms if your partner has the virus.