Viral Hepatitis is cause by Hepatitis A through E. (A,B,C,D & E)

Hepatitis ‘A’ and Hepatitis ‘E’ are more important causes of Acute Viral Hepatitis and Acute Liver Failure in India.  A total of 315 outbreaks of viral hepatitis have been reported from 2010 – 2013 and 99 outbreaks only in 2013.

Hepatitis ‘A’ infection is responsible for 10-30% of acute viral Hepatitis and 5-15% of acute liver failure cases in India.  Hepatitis ‘E’ infection is responsible for 10-40% of acute viral Hepatitis and 15-45% of acute liver failure cases in India.

Acute Hepatitis ‘E’ has high mortality rate of 15-25% in pregnant women in third trimester.

Acute Liver Failure may need Liver Transplantation .

For Hepatitis ’A’ and ‘E’, there are no specific treatments identifying and controlling the infection source is important.

Safe drinking water and clean food helps in controlling and eradicating these viruses from our country.

On the other hand hepatitis ‘B’ and hepatitis ‘C’ are responsible for chronic viral hepatitis, which can complicate and cause cirrhosis of liver and liver cancer which may require liver transplantation ultimately .

Hepatitis B is prevalent in approximately 4 crore population in India and Hepatitis C in 1 crore population .

Both these viruses are treatable and prevention of these complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer is a possibility.

Increasing the awareness about these viruses their mode of transmission and awareness of the availability of treatment to the general public plays an important role in control and eradication of these chronic viruses from our country.

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are transmitted by parental route (Blood transfusion, use of unsterilized surgical instruments, re usage of needles, sexual contact, and mother to baby transfusion etc

Hepatitis B is preventable by vaccination.   Vaccination should be given in 3 doses and it confers protection in more than 99% of cases.

Hepatitis B is a treatable disease . Various antiviral drugs are available .

Hepatitis C is a curable disease and various new drug regimens are available with 95% cure rates.

We at Apollo Hospitals would like to initiate an awareness campaign on Hepatitis with a long term goal of eradicating all Hepatitis viruses from our country.

DR K S SOMA SEKHAR RAO
MD, DM
Sr. Consultant Medical Gastroenterologist,
Hepatologist & Therapeutic Endoscopist.
Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

DR NAVEEN POLAVARAPU
MRCP, FRCP, CCST
Sr.Consultant Medical Gastroenterologist,& Transplant Hepatologist.
Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.