Hepatitis Survey reveals one out of 50 Bengalureans have Hepatitis B

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ENARADA, Bangalore, July 26, 2013:

On-going survey to collect data on Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections among the urban population of Bengaluru, revels that one out of 50 Bengalureans have Hepatitis B.

Doctors of the liver team at BGS Global Hospitals have founded the ILC Foundation; a not-for-profit organization under the aegis of which, this study the first of its kind in the country, has been initiated and conducted. This is in keeping with the theme of World Hepatitis Day this year, “This is Hepatitis. Know it. Confront It.”

The survey reveals that one in 50 in the city have Hepatitis B and one in 200 have Hepatitis C. These findings were the outcome of Free Hepatitis screening camps organized in various areas in the city. The results are indicative of the magnitude of the disease burden and sound an alert to Bengalureans to take preventive measures for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections.

Awareness for these diseases is extremely low. To add to it, it is silent – majority of those infected are unaware of the infection since they do not have any symptoms. However they are easily treatable if detected early and can be completely prevented by getting vaccinated. Vaccinations are now available for Hepatitis B. If left untreated, both hepatitis B and C viruses can lead to liver cirrhosis which can cause complications such as bleeding, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, coma, liver cancer, liver failure and death.

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Dr. Mathew Jacob, Senior Consultant, Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgery, BGS Global Hospitals said, “Shockingly, about 3 crore people in India have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, far higher than the prevalence of HIV or any cancer. However chronic viral hepatitis does not have the level of awareness seen with other communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.”

Dr Sonal Asthana, Head, Hepatobiliary Surgery and Multi Organ Transplantation, BGS Global Hospitals, elaborating the details of the survey said, “There is a high incidence of Hepatitis B viral infection in rural Karnataka. However, there is very little information about the prevalence of Hepatitis B in Bengaluru. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of the infections in different socioeconomic groups in various sections of society. The screening camps conducted helped raise awareness, provided access to testing and treatment and influenced a real change in disease prevention. We propose to screen and vaccinate around 20,000 people by the next one year.”

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