HEPATITIS IS PREVENTABLE AND CURABLE

World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and hepatocellular cancer. This year’s WHO theme is “Hepatitis can’t wait”, conveying the urgency of efforts needed to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. With a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis related illness – even in the current COVID-19 crisis – we can’t wait to act on viral hepatitis. Abnormal liver biochemical and function tests are frequently detected in asymptomatic patients since many screening blood test panels routinely include them. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin are biochemical markers of liver injury. Albumin, bilirubin, and prothrombin time are markers of hepatocellular function says " Dr. Vinod Chahare DNB(Medicine) DNB (Gastrenterology), Sr. Consultant – Gastroenterology, Olive Hospital

Elevations of liver enzymes often reflect damage to the liver or biliary obstruction, whereas an abnormal serum albumin or prothrombin time may be seen in the setting of impaired hepatic synthetic function

CAUSES OF VIRAL HEPATITIS - A, B, C, D, AND E, EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS, CYTOMEGALOVIRUS

 Alcohol
 Drugs
 Environmental toxins
 Autoimmune hepatitis
 Wilson disease
 Ischemia
 Congestive hepatopathy
 Others

Causes of hepatitis can be detected with few basic tests (viral markers, metabolic markers, autoimmune markers),fibroscan, USG/CT abdomen and sometime may need invasive diagnostic test such as liver biopsy. Most of diseases can be prevented by adapting good lifestyle such as eating healthy food, avoiding intake from unhygienic places, unprotected sexual contact, IV drug abuse, maintaining body weight and controlling other disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, thyroid. Avoiding unnecessary drugs or over the counter or complimentary alternative drugs. Some health drinks can also lead to liver disorder. Whenever detected to have hepatitis it is advisable to evaluate the liver

disease and seek proper medical advice. Referral to a gastroenterologist or hepatologist should be considered for patients with unexplained, persistent liver biochemical test elevations (≥2 times the upper limit of normal for aminotransferases or 1.5 times the upper limit of normal for alkaline phosphatase) and for patients who are being considered for liver biopsy. Management depends upon the cause of hepatitis for which we need to have detailed evaluation and assessment of tests along with other supportive care such as nutrition and management of other comorbidities. If patient develops end stage liver disease or acute liver failure due to any cause it becomes necessary to think of liver transplantation in which damaged liver gets replaced with healthy one. Therefore, it becomes important to
identify and treat hepatitis in specific manner.

The Department of Gastroenterology at Olive Hospitals offers comprehensive care in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders related to pancreas, liver, gallbladder, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. The Speciality is divided into two sub- specialties – Medical Gastroenterology and Surgical Gastroenterology. Olive Hospitals’ experienced team of skilled specialists are well-versed in endoscopic procedures to treat various conditions that require medical and/or surgical interventions.

Book Appointment: Dr. Vinod Chahare DNB(Medicine) DNB (Gastrenterology), Sr. Consultant – Gastroenterology, Olive Hospital