What is Viral Hepatitis?
It is inflammation of the liver caused by specific viruses – A, B, C, D & E.
Types of Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
Often spreads through contaminated food or water. It is an acute infection and does not cause chronic liver disease.
Hepatitis B
Spreads through infected blood, other infected body fluids, or from an infected mother to her baby (during childbirth); can become chronic.
Hepatitis C
Primarily spread through blood, especially sharing needles, and can lead to chronic liver disease and liver cancer.
Hepatitis D
Only occurs in people who already have the Hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis E
Similar to Hepatitis A, spread through contaminated food and water, especially in areas with poor sanitation.
Causes of Hepatitis B & C
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infectious bodily fluids, such as HBV infected blood; injection drug use; having sex with an infected partner; sharing razors with an infected person; or transmitted to baby during birth if mother is infected.
Hepatitis C is transmitted through direct blood-to-blood contact. Sexual transmission is possible but rare.
Reusing needles & syringes, blood transfusion of improperly screened blood, unsterile medical & dental equipment in health care centres, are some of the major causes that have led to the spread of Hepatitis C in Pakistan.
Hepatitis: A Silent Killer In Pakistan
In Pakistan more than 12 million people suffer from either Hepatitis B or C. Each year brings about 45,000 new cases. This virus is a silent killer because many patients remain undiagnosed and untreated for decades, before developing liver complications and liver cancer.