E-Paper
Experts to dwell on Hepatitis B
THE EXPERTS from New Delhi and different parts of the State will gather to discuss the magnitude and current status of Hepatitis B in the society and ways to prevent it at the 'Hepatitis B Update-2006', on July 29.
THE EXPERTS from New Delhi and different parts of the State will gather to discuss the magnitude and current status of Hepatitis B in the society and ways to prevent it at the 'Hepatitis B Update-2006', on July 29.
The update is being organised by the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, in association with the Gastro Club of Allahabad, Indian National Association for the Study of Liver and the National Academy of Sciences, India.
Hepatitis B Update-2006 organising secretary Dr Manisha Dwivedi informed the programme seeks to highlight the seriousness of the disease, its manifestation, diagnosis and prevention amongst the general public, school children and physicians. In the first session, a public awareness programme for the school children and general public would be organised.
The experts from New Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi and Allahabad would answer the questions regarding Hepatitis B and other common causes of jaundice. Dr Dwivedi said in the second session the scientific update on Hepatitis B virus would be organised for clinicians.
The lectures would be delivered on the natural history, asymptomatic carrier stage, clinical presentation of the disease, the importance of blood tests and treatment. The update would conclude with the discussion on the importance of vaccination against this virus and how the transmission from mother to infant can be prevented.
2 bn affected by deadly virus
Dr Manisha Dwivedi said an estimated two billion people were infected by the Hepatitis B virus globally, of which 350 million have become chronic carriers of the Hepatitis B surface antigen.
"As many as 75 per cent of chronic carriers are in the Asia-Pacific Region. About 20-30 per cent of chronic HBV carriers develop cirrhosis of liver or hepatic cancer. Both these conditions are associated with a high morbidity and mortality," she added.
Scientific secretary Dr SP Mishra said the Hepatitis B infection could be prevented by passive and active immunisation or by giving HBIG, which provides temporary immunity but effective in preventing mother to infant transmission (if given in the first 24 hours after birth). It is also effective in preventing organ re-infection after transplant, he added.
Dr Mishra said the active HBV immunization using a universal vaccination programme decreased the risk of vertical and sexual transmission of the virus. Because of this successful outcome, the active HBV immunization using a universal vaccination programme has been adopted in various parts of the world. "Treatment of patients with established chronic infection remains a therapeutic challenge even today as most available therapeutic options are only effective in a minority of those who may benefit from them," he said.
