Hepatitis more dangerous than AIDS

At a time when AIDS and HIV is hogging all the attention, hepatitis B remains neglected, even though experts feel that the hepatitis virus may be more dangerous than HIV. In order to create awareness about the condition, the Union Health Minister Dr. C.P. Thakur, declared December 4 as the National Hepatitis Awareness Day, which will be observed every year from next year. A pilot project on hepatitis B vaccination was carried out in 32 districts and 15 cities at a cost of Rs. 30 crore. This would now be extended to all districts. The Hepatitis B virus is potentially more dangerous than HIV, and the problem is compounded because of lack of awareness about the disease. Alarmingly, more people die of Hepatitis infection in a day than of AIDS in a year in India. It takes a smaller amount of blood to transmit the Hepatitis B virus that has the ability to withstand extreme variations in temperature. Figures reveal that the national prevalence rate for Hepatitis B is 4.7% in India as against a rate of 1% for AIDS. More than 45 million people are reportedly currently infected with the Hepatitis B virus while more than 15 million are infected with Hepatitis C. Many infected patients are not even aware of being carriers of the virus. Experts believe that there is an urgent need to educate the public about the disease to be able to take protective steps against it. Viral hepatitis B & C is caused by hepatitis A, B, C, D, E & G viruses. Of these, hepatitis B and C are more important as they lead to more illness and death. Hepatitis B can be transmitted through infected body fluids like saliva, blood and genital secretions. The infection may spread from one person to another by sharing blood stained razors and needles. Tattooing, contaminated blood transfusions and unsafe sex can also transmit the infection. Practising safe sex and observing hygienic habits may help in preventing the infection. Vaccination for hepatitis B is available and should be taken by all, if they can afford it. Following WHO directions, almost 120 countries worldwide have included Hepatitis B vaccination in their national immunisation programmes, but this still remains to be done in India, as the cost of vaccination is still very high.

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