An Emirati doctor, Dr. Saeed Al Marzooqi, a consultant hepatologist at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, emphasizes the significance of raising public awareness about hepatitis, spanning from early detection to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, to mitigate the risk of liver cancer.
Dr. Al Marzooqi underscores the crucial role of early detection and vaccination, achieved through awareness drives and initiatives, in combating the disease.
Hepatitis is characterized by inflammation of the liver, a vital organ responsible for processing nutrients, filtering the blood, and fighting infections. The condition can lead to acute or chronic liver disease, including liver cancer, caused mainly by hepatitis viruses. Other factors, such as infections, alcohol, certain drugs, and autoimmune diseases, can also contribute to hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis often presents with no symptoms, leaving patients unaware of their infection. However, symptoms may manifest between two weeks to six months after exposure, and they can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice. In some cases, chronic viral hepatitis may persist for years without symptoms until it progresses to advanced liver scarring (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.
There are five main types of viral hepatitis, designated as A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A is highly contagious and commonly transmitted through contaminated food or water. On the other hand, hepatitis B poses a serious threat, especially if undetected and untreated, potentially leading to liver failure, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. While vaccines are available to prevent hepatitis A, no cure exists for hepatitis B; however, long-term treatments can control the virus.
Hepatitis C, another viral infection, can also cause severe liver damage if left untreated, resulting in cirrhosis and potential liver failure. Like hepatitis B, it can be transmitted through similar routes. Unlike hepatitis B, hepatitis C can be cured through treatment with high success rates, though there is currently no vaccine available for its prevention.
The global impact of viral hepatitis is substantial, affecting over 350 million people worldwide. The disease claims the lives of over a million people annually due to conditions related to acute hepatitis and chronic infection, leading to liver cancer and cirrhosis. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are major contributors to liver cancer cases.
To prevent viral hepatitis, individuals are advised to maintain regular follow-ups with gastroenterologists or hepatologists, particularly if diagnosed with hepatitis B, even if they have not required treatment in the past. Regular monitoring and liver ultrasound scans every six months are essential to identify early signs of liver cancer, which can be treated effectively.
Promoting greater awareness of hepatitis and its prevention strategies is crucial in reducing the burden of liver cancer and improving overall public health.
0 Comments