Hepatitis cases are rising in Pakistan at an alarming rate.

 

Hepatitis cases multiplying at alarming speed in Pakistan'

In Pakistan, a person dies of hepatitis every 16 minutes, and a woman loses her life giving birth every 31 minutes. These diseases are treatable, thus these lives can be saved. Prof. Nusrat Shah, vice chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences, presented her ideas as the keynote speaker at a seminar held in honor of World Hepatitis Day.

The blog section for this article will discuss the global disease burden of hepatitis and what needs to be done to address this problem in Pakistan.

Introduction of Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is one of the most serious health problems facing Pakistan today. The disease is currently responsible for the death of more than 20,000 people in the country every year, and this number is rising at an alarming rate.

There are five main types of viral hepatitis – A, B, C, D and E – all of which are highly contagious and can cause serious liver damage. Hepatitis B and C are the most common types in Pakistan, with around 2 million people estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis B infection and 1.5 million living with chronic hepatitis C.

The majority of people with viral hepatitis do not experience any symptoms until the disease has progressed to a late stage, at which point it can be extremely difficult to treat. This makes early diagnosis and treatment crucial in order to prevent the disease from causing serious damage to the liver.

Pakistan currently has one of the highest rates of viral hepatitis in the world, and the situation is only getting worse. It is estimated that there are currently around 4 million people living with chronic hepatitis in Pakistan, and this number is expected to increase to 7 million by 2030 unless urgent action is taken.

HEPATITIS

Global Disease burden Level of Hepatitis

71.1 million Persons worldwide have hepatitis C, compared to 248 million who have hepatitis B.  Hepatitis B deaths climbed from over 580,500 to 799,000 globally between 1990 and 2017, while hepatitis C deaths grew from roughly 350,100 to 580,000 internationally.  Hepatitis B and C are caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), respectively.  Both HBV and HCV are spread by contact with contaminated blood, which can happen during fetal-maternal contact or during blood transfusions used to treat various diseases.  Hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis brought on by chronic HBV and HCV infection might result in morbidity and mortality. 

A 2019 study found that the risk of contracting Hepatitis C from blood transfusions is the highest, at 14.8%. Reusing needles or injections, hospital histories, dental work, surgical histories, and other factors can all contribute to the spread of hepatitis.

Different variants of Hepatitis and their testing

There are different types of hepatitis, which are identified by the viruses that cause them. The most common types in Pakistan are hepatitis A, B, and C. All three can lead to serious liver problems, but they are spread in different ways and require different treatments.

Hepatitis A is usually spread through contaminated food or water, and can be prevented with a vaccine. Hepatitis B is spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, and can be prevented with a vaccine or through taking precautions when coming into contact with potentially infected materials. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood, and there is no vaccine available for it.

LIVER CIRRHOSIS

National Hepatitis Disease burden statistics of Pakistan

According to the World Health Organization, Pakistan has the second highest burden of hepatitis in the world. The number of people with chronic hepatitis B and C is increasing at an alarming rate. In 2015, there were an estimated 20 million people with chronic hepatitis B and 8 million with chronic hepatitis C. The majority of these cases are undiagnosed and therefore not receiving treatment.

Hepatitis B and C are major public health concerns in Pakistan. These diseases can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, which are major causes of death in Pakistan. The government has taken some steps to address this problem, but more needs to be done.

According to a recent study, the number of hepatitis cases in Pakistan is increasing at an alarming rate. The study found that the number of hepatitis cases has increased by almost 50% in the last five years. This is a very worrying trend, as hepatitis is a serious disease that can lead to liver failure and death.

There are many different types of hepatitis, but the most common type in Pakistan is hepatitis C. This is a very dangerous type of hepatitis, as it can often lead to liver cancer. Hepatitis C is usually spread through contaminated blood, and it is thought that the increase in cases is due to the use of unsterilized needles and syringes.

According to Dr. Sajjad Jameel, a very well-known Gastroenterologist of Pakistan quoted while addressing at World Hepatitis Day 2022 Seminar at Karachi that 60,000 people die from Hepatitis E and 100,000 from Hepatitis A each year, according to figures from the World Health Organization. Pregnant women have a substantially greater death rate. Between 50 and 60 percent of acute viral hepatitis in youngsters in this country is caused by hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is transmitted to about 96% of children under the age of five, and between 98 and 100% of adults before they reach maturity.

Young adults frequently contract hepatitis A. Hepatitis A symptoms include fever, jaundice, abdominal discomfort on the right side, indigestion, yellow urine, weakness, vomiting, nausea, and dizziness. The greatest ways to avoid hepatitis, according to him, are vaccination, proper fruit and vegetable and dishwashing, well-cooked food consumption, and medication use as directed by a physician.

 According to him, the general fatality rate from acute hepatitis E ranges from 0.4% to 4.0%; however, the mortality rate increases significantly during pregnancy.

Conclusion:

Pakistan currently has one of the highest rates of viral hepatitis in the world, and the situation is only getting worse. It is estimated that there are currently around 4 million people living with chronic hepatitis in Pakistan, and this number is expected to increase to 7 million by 2030 unless urgent action is taken.

The Pakistani government has been working hard to try and control the spread of hepatitis, but it is a difficult task. The best way to prevent hepatitis is to get vaccinated against it. However, this is not always possible, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited.

If you think you may have hepatitis, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible so that you can start treatment. There is no cure for hepatitis C, but there are treatments available that can help to slow down the progression of the disease.