Ludhiana:- "Hepatitis, a potentially life-threatening liver disease, often goes undetected until it reaches a serious stage. Hepatitis is preventable and treatable. No one should ignore its early warning signs, but should prioritize timely screening, vaccination and healthy lifestyle habits to protect their liver health."
Speaking on the eve of 'World Hepatitis Day', Dr. Pulkit Dhiman, Consultant-Gastroenterologist, Livasa Hospital Khanna, said that special attention needs to be paid to Hepatitis B and C, as if left untreated, they can take the form of a chronic disease and this significantly increases the risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. The biggest challenge is that hepatitis often spreads silently, and many patients do not show any symptoms until the disease is severe.
He elaborated that symptoms such as persistent fatigue, yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice), dark urine, clay-like/light-colored stools (tarry stools), abdominal pain or swelling, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, itching, and prolonged fever should never be ignored and medical advice should be sought immediately.
Dr. Dhiman further said that people with diabetes, obesity, fatty liver, excessive alcohol consumption, people with a family history of liver disease, people who have had untested blood transfusions in the past, people who share needles, and healthcare workers should get screened for hepatitis and other liver disorders on time.
The good news is that hepatitis is largely preventable. The hepatitis B vaccine provides effective protection, while maintaining personal hygiene, consuming clean drinking water and hygienically prepared food, avoiding sharing needles, razors and other personal items, limiting alcohol consumption, keeping weight under control and getting regular health check-ups can significantly reduce the risk of liver disease.
Dr. Dhiman said that with the advancement in medical science, hepatitis C is now completely curable in most patients, while hepatitis B can be effectively controlled with long-term treatment. Timely diagnosis of the disease is the most important key to avoiding serious complications, preserving liver function and improving the quality of life.
Warning signs to watch out for:
· Yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
· Persistent fatigue or weakness
· Dark-colored urine
· Light or clay-colored stools (tarry stools)
· Loss of appetite
· Nausea or vomiting
· Pain or swelling in the upper abdomen
· Unexplained weight loss
· Persistent itching
· Fever lasting several days
Measures to protect the liver:
· Get ??vaccinated against hepatitis B
· Maintain good personal hygiene
· Consume clean drinking water and food prepared hygienically
· Avoid sharing needles, razors, and personal items
· Avoid alcohol consumption
· Maintain a healthy weight and control diabetes
· If you are in a high-risk category, get regular health checkups and liver screenings