WHO ESTIMATES 20M NIGERIANS HAVE HEPATITIS B VIRUS -SOGHIN
• Prof. Chukwu
Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN) has revealed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that 20 million Nigerians are infected by Hepatatis B.
SOGHIN is a professional body made up of Nigerian physicians, surgeons, pathologists and allied health professionals dedicated to the advancement of knowledge on the recognition, prevention, investigation and treatment of liver and digestive diseases.
The society is also committed to the promotion of education and training in all fields of Gastroenterology/Hepatology and to the offering of professional/technical advice to the relevant authorities of the Nigerian government.
SOGHIN was formed in September 2007 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, by the merger of the Association for the Study of the Liver In Nigeria (ASLIN) and the Nigerian Chapter of the West African Society of Gastroenterology (WASOG).
In a public awareness campaign, Dr Funmi Lesi, a consultant at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and a member of SOGHIN spoke on Hepatitis B and C. Excerpts:
Hepatitis B & C
Together hepatitis B and C represent one of the major threats to global health. Hepatitis B and C are both silent viruses and you could be infected for many years without knowing it. If left untreated, both viruses can lead to liver scarring (cirrhosis), and potentially to liver cancer, liver failure and death.
In some cases, a diagnosis is made too late and the only option is a liver transplant. Approximately 1 million people die every year from chronic viral hepatitis B or C. If you think you are at risk, it is important that you get tested and consider your treatment options and management strategies.
Hepatitis B
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises that hepatitis B is one of the major diseases affecting mankind today. Hepatitis B is one of the most common viral infections in the world and the WHO estimates that two billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus and approximately 350 million people are living with chronic (lifelong) infections, and in Nigeria, it is estimated that about 20 million people are infected and about five million die of the consequences.
The Hepatitis B virus is highly infectious and about 100 times more infectious than HIV. The hepatitis B virus can be found in all major body fluids of infected people, including blood, semen, sweat, tears, urine, vaginal fluid and even saliva. Although majority of infected persons do not have any symptoms of infection, those that do often experience the following symptoms: nausea, fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), stomach ache, diarrhoea and aching joints.
Unlike hepatitis C, the good news is that there is a vaccine that can prevent infection. If you think you are at risk, confirm your status and if negative, you should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Hepatitis C
There are approximately 170 million people chronically infected with hepatitis C worldwide, in Nigeria it is estimated that up to 5 million people are chronically infected. In 2000, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that between 3 to 4 million people are newly infected every year.
Like hepatitis B, the hepatitis C virus is known as a 'silent killer' and people can live with the virus for many years without significant symptoms or knowing they are infected. During this time, people may spread the virus to others.
Left untreated over a number of years, infection with the virus can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), liver cancer and ultimately, liver failure and death.
Hepatitis C is mainly spread through blood-to-blood contact and, similarly to hepatitis B, symptoms can include: nausea, fatigue, aching muscles and joints, anxiety and depression, poor concentration, stomach ache and loss of appetite.
Risk factors
The hepatitis B virus is spread through direct contact with infected blood as well as most major body fluids, including blood, semen, sweat, tears, saliva, urine and vaginal fluid. The hepatitis C virus is spread through direct contact with infected blood. Very rarely it may be passed on through other body fluids.
Many people do not have any symptoms if they contract hepatitis B or C, although they can still transmit the viruses to others. The most common routes of infection are:
Blood transfusions and receiving blood products before screening was introduced, medical or dental interventions without adequate sterilisation of equipment, mother to infant during childbirth, sharing equipment for injecting drugs, sharing straws, notes etc. for snorting cocaine, sharing razors, toothbrushes or other household articles, tattooing and body piercing if done using unsterilised equipment.
In the case of hepatitis B, infection can also occur through having unprotected sex with an infected person. If you think you could be at risk from either hepatitis B or C it is important to get tested.
Get tested
There is a simple test - generally a blood test - for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C. If you are diagnosed with hepatitis B or C you will face many challenges, but it is better to confront the disease head on, know how to avoid transmitting the infection to others and consider your treatment options and management strategies as early as possible.
For further information about whether you might be at risk and how you can get tested, please contact your doctor or SOGHIN, who will be able to provide you with the information that you need.
Hepatitis B - get vaccinated, get treated
Getting immunised is the best way of preventing hepatitis B infection. More than one billion doses of the hepatitis B vaccine have been used since the early 1980s and it has been shown to be effective in approximately 95 per cent of cases. There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C.
However, if you are already infected, there are effective treatment options available so see your doctor about this.