About 23 million Nigerians have chronic Hepatitis B while another 3 to 4 million have Hepatitis C.
Worldwide, about 330 million people have chronic Hepatitis B and C viruses.
Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Emuobor Odeghe, made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with The Next Edition in Lagos.
According to her, more than 700,000 people die from Hepatitis B every year worldwide.
Explaining that there are different types of Hepatitis, A-E, Dr. Odeghe said: “The commonest and most important are those caused by Hepatitis B and C viruses.
“This is because they have a propensity to remain in the liver and cause chronic infection. It is this chronic infection that eventually leads to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. One can say therefore that these two, B and C are the most serious of the Hepatitis types.”
Again, she disclosed that “Hepatitis B is the commonest cause of liver disease and liver cancer here. Liver cancer is becoming one of the commonest cancers in Nigeria. It is also one of the most deadly cancers in Nigeria and worldwide. Many people who have it die from it even in developed countries.”
Hepatitis, she explained, meant inflammation of the liver.
“Whenever an organ is injured, it responds by inflammation. So, simply put, Hepatitis means the response of the liver to all types of injury.”
On how the disease is contracted, the medical doctor explained: “There are different causes for the different types of Hepatitis. Therefore, the way it is contracted depends on the cause.
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“Hepatitis A and E viruses are contracted by eating or drinking contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B and C viruses are contracted from infected body fluids such as blood, for example through transfusion of infected blood, or sharing of contaminated sharp objects such as pedicure sets, syringes by intravenous drug abusers. Hepatitis B can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby and also through sex.
“Hepatitis D always exists with Hepatitis B. By this, it means that Hepatitis D cannot survive on its own. It always needs Hepatitis B. In Nigeria, Hepatitis B is mainly spread in early childhood through the sharing of personal items such as toothbrushes, contact with body fluids from oozing skin lesions and infected wounds.”
She listed the causes of Hepatitis to include the hepatitis viruses, diabetes; obesity; alcohol; some drugs; infections; genetic disorders; inherited conditions; autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Odeghe advised that all newborns should be given Hepatitis B vaccination within the first day of life and vaccination of all children and adolescents, and all adults who are at risk of being infected such as health care workers as a preventative measure.
She added: “It is important for all Nigerians to screen themselves for Hepatitis B. Those who test negative should be vaccinated, while those who test positive should be evaluated by a doctor.”
Every July 28 is observed as World Hepatitis day to raise global awareness of Hepatitis B and C.
Its aim is to encourage prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HBV and HCV.
