Scourge of hepatitis needs prudent handling, says expert

Doctors urged to create awareness among people

LAHORE:

Hepatitis B, C and D cause liver failure and liver cancer. Patients suffering from this life-threatening disease remain unaware. There is a need to start an awareness campaign on an emergency basis regarding annual medical examination and diagnostic tests among the citizens so that people can be protected from this deadly disease.

Senior Physician of Gastroenterology & Consultant of PGMI/Lahore General Hospital Dr. Israr Ul Haq Toor has expressed these views while delivering special lecture to the medical students.

He pointed out that due to hepatitis, inflammation in the liver occurs and it can lead to a wide range of health problems including liver cancer.

He added that five main strains of hepatitis virus A, B, C, D and E are globally known for which in Pakistan it is much important to go for on time screening of this disease. He further asked the doctors that apart from treatment they must concentrate on creating awareness among patients to remain careful and adopt precautionary measures in this regard.

He said that raising awareness about screening for the prevention of the growing disease of hepatitis (black jaundice) in Pakistan is the most important need of the hour without which it is not possible to reduce the cost of treatment by millions of rupees and mortality rate. Similarly, the symptoms of hepatitis do not appear immediately but death in 20 seconds, due to complications, is a terrible thing to deal with which the citizens have to ensure treatment well in time.

Dr. Israr Toor pointed out that due to better healthcare facilities in Punjab as compared to other areas, screening for hepatitis is also increasing due to which more cases of hepatitis-C are being reported in the province. Highlighting the symptoms of jaundice, Dr. Israr-ul-Haq Toor added that itching of the eyes, feeling tired, loss of appetite, itchy skin, nausea, numbness of hands and feet and fever are the symptoms of hepatitis.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2022.