Friday 10 June 2016

IMA & HCFI hold public and GP awareness webcast on the myths and facts about Hepatitis

IMA & HCFI hold public and GP awareness webcast on the myths and facts about Hepatitis
New Delhi, June 09, 2016: Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. Several different viruses, named hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses, cause viral hepatitis. These 5 types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread. Hepatitis can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer. Aimed at raising awareness amongst the medical fraternity as well as the general public and busting common myths about Hepatitis, its causes and effects; a webcast was organized by the Indian Medical Association and Heart Care Foundation of India today. The expert faculty for the webcast consisted of Dr. Neelam Mohan, Director, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Liver Transplantation Medanta - The Medicity, Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President HCFI & Honorary Secretary General IMA & Dr VK Monga – Dean IMA CGP. Speaking about the same, Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President HCFI & Honorary Secretary General IMA said, “Hepatitis is very common in India and can be easily prevented. It is important that the medical fraternity counsels their patients about Hepatitis vaccines as well as prevention techniques. A few simple preventive steps can help save many lives. It is for this reason that we organized this webcast today on common myths and facts of Hepatitis.” Adding to this, Dr BC Roy Awardee Dr Neelam Mohan, Director, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Liver Transplantation Medanta - The Medicity said, “There are numerous myths associated with Hepatitis including the need to eat bland and boiled food, the importance of consuming sugarcane juice in excess quantities to beat the disease as well as the fact that if a person has jaundice only then can he have hepatitis. These are all misguided facts and it is important for doctors to raise awareness amongst their patients about them. It is also important that people take necessary preventive steps for the incidence of Hepatitis continues to increase in our country due to a lack of overall awareness about the importance of good personal hygiene, eating well-cooked and healthy food and importance of vaccinations and healthy sex practices.” Hepatitis A & E most common cause of acute viral hepatitis A in children E in more common in children. Both these are transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Thus, people must ensure that they do not eat contaminated food or water and maintain good personal sanitation and self-hygiene. Hepatitis E infection usually occurs as epidemics but may occur in a sporadic manner as well. Hepatitis B and C together infect 5% of the Indian population that amounts to 45-50 million people, the route of transmission is similar to HIV. Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Getting a vaccination can prevent Hepatitis A & B. It is also important to maintain good food and hygiene, avoid sharing needles, razors and follow safe sex practices. If you are a health care or public safety worker, always follow routine barrier precautions and safely handle needles and other sharp objects. If you are pregnant, your doctor will test your blood for hepatitis B. If you are an infected mother, your baby should be given hepatitis B immune globulin (H-BIG) and the hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours after birth. If you have chronic hepatitis B, make sure your babies get all of their hepatitis B shots in the first six months of life. Common Myths and facts • Myth: People think that boiled vegetables and bland food is the right kind of food for viral hepatitis The fact is that nutrition is very important for the improvement of liver function so such bland and boiled food may not be palatable and can increase the nausea tendency • Myth: People think that sugarcane juice is very good for curing Hepatitis The fact that is while sugar cane is a good source of carbs but you also need to take other nutritious food items and not just keep consuming sugarcane juice in excess quantities • Myth: A person with hepatitis sleeps a lot The fact is that if a person sleeps excessively then it could be a marker of early encephalopaphy that is suggesting that the liver is getting into a failure state • Myth: Vaccines are available for all hepatitis Vaccines are available for Hepatitis A & E, no clinical use vaccine are available for hepatitis C & E • Myth: If you do not have jaundice you do not have hepatitis 70% of the children and 30% adults may not have jaundice with acute hepatitis infection they can just present with constitutional symptoms such as fever, vomiting, poor appetite, lethargy with high liver enzymes

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