RAJSHAHI, July 25, 2019 (BSS)- Creating a wide-ranging mass-awareness can be the vital means of preventing hepatitis viruses particularly B and C as those are gradually taking a heavy toll on society and the nation as well.
“The number of patients suffering from various liver diseases like hepatitis and liver cirrhosis is increasing in our society for lack of knowledge about prevention of those,” said Professor Mamun Al Mahtab, Head of Department of Hepatology in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University, while addressing a seminar as focal person.
Department of Botany in Rajshahi University (RU) organized the seminar titled “Causes of Hepatitis and Liver cirrhosis and Treatment Facilities of those in Bangladesh and Way forward” at the department lecture gallery here yesterday.
Professor Harun-Or-Rashid, Head of Hepatology Department in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, also addressed the seminar as resource person.
RU Vice-chancellor Prof Abdus Sobhan and its Pro-VCs Prof Ananda Kumar Shaha and Prof Chowdhury Jakaria spoke on the occasion as guests of honour with Prof Golam Kabir, Chairman of the department in the chair.
Disseminating his expertise Professor Mamun mentioned infection of the hepatitis viruses as fire without flame and a silent killer. He put emphasis on the need of collective efforts to address the transmission of the viruses.
He said hepatitis B virus is a common problem for the society and its treatment is continuously changing and improving. Jaundice, bleeding, weight loss and severe itching are the last stage of liver disease caused by the hepatitis viruses.
Professor Mamun Mahtab identically mentioned that transmission of the viruses takes place through mainly blood, sharing needles or other injecting equipment, vaccination, IV infusion, contaminated dental and surgical instruments, sharing razor blades or toothbrushes, IV drug abuse, piercing and sexual contact.
Besides, old age, male sex, obesity, virus genotype, viral load, fatty liver, alcohol ingestion, co-infection with other viruses and stage of fibrosis, especially F3, F4 are the major risk factors for the virus transmission.
Many of people can prevent the disease if he or she maintains something like healthy balanced diet, consumption of more fruits and vegetables, normal weight, regular exercise, avoid alcohol, drinking lots of water to help flush out toxins, positive attitude and avoid high doses of vitamins A, D, E, K.
“We have no way but to raise stimulating awareness about different forms of hepatitis and various methods of prevention and treatment,” said Dr Harun-Or- Rashid adding that importance should be given to creating awareness among people to prevent the ‘silent killer’.
He said the majority of people infected with hepatitis are unaware, undiagnosed and untreated due to lack of awareness.
Emphasizing the need of increasing awareness, he said despite its staggering toll on health, hepatitis remains a group of diseases that are largely unknown, undiagnosed and untreated hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, an irritation or swelling of the liver cells.
DR Harun said hepatitis viruses- A, B, C, D and E-can cause acute and chronic infection and inflammation of the liver, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. So, there is no alternative to prevent the viruses with collective efforts.