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Three scientists, Harvey J. Alter and Charles M. Rice from the United States, and Michael Houghton, a British scientist, have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine this year for discovering techniques to detect and cure the hepatitis C virus.
The World Health Organization estimates that there are currently more than 71 million hepatitis C patients in the world.
According to the Health Organization, in 2016, around four lakh people died due to this disease.
Liver cirrhosis and cancer can occur if they are not caught and treated early.
No vaccine for hepatitis C has yet been discovered.
Hepatitis-C in Bangladesh
According to the World Health Organization, around one million people are infected with the hepatitis B and C virus in Bangladesh. Hepatitis kills more than 22,000 people each year in Bangladesh.
Secretary General of the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh. Mohammad Ali tells BBC Bangla that there are no precise statistics on the number of people infected with hepatitis C in Bangladesh alone. However, experts estimate that at least one percent of the country’s population is infected with hepatitis C.
As such, at least 16 lakh people are affected by this disease in Bangladesh.
“The biggest problem with this disease is that it has very few symptoms, so it is not easy to contract even if it is infected. For a long time it remained silent inside the body, which is the deadliest aspect of this virus. The patient understands nothing. Little by little it begins to damage the liver. As a result, cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer is formed.
“As a result, in Bangladesh, the disease has been identified in patients at a time when it has spread everywhere.” He says.
How people get infected with hepatitis C.
Experts say that it generally enters the body through blood and blood components.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Professor of Hematology. Masuda Begum says that blood transfusions can often lead to hepatitis C infection. As a result, hepatitis B and C are now being tested for blood transfusions.
‘Many times no symptoms have been seen before. But hepatitis C was detected only after a blood test. He says.
How to get infected with hepatitis C.
-Processing of blood contents without screening
-The same multipurpose plasma injection
-Surgery time
-The virus can enter the body when it comes in contact with blood, including piercing the nose and ears.
– Taking drugs
-Protected sex
-Homosexuality
-The mother has hepatitis at birth
-Patients with HIV
-People in prison
– Tattooing
-The hepatitis C virus is now the second most common cause of alcoholism in the world
– Liver cirrhosis is more common.
Professor Dr. Masuda Begum says: “Viruses B and C have a window period of 2 to 6 months after infection in the blood. At this time, the virus is not detected in the normal blood test. If someone does a blood transfusion at this time, they are invisibly infected with the virus. It requires a viral DNA marker or a total HVC test to determine it. It is a deadly disease that has no alternative to safe blood transfusions if you want to eradicate it. ‘
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C does not cause any symptoms. Many times it takes eight to ten years to understand symptoms. By then, the body was badly damaged.
However, symptoms that should be checked for hepatitis in addition to other tests are:
-Fever
-Weakness and fatigue
– Does not like food
– Feeling of nausea
-Feeling tired
– jaundice, watery stomach
Treatment of hepatitis C.
According to the World Health Organization, after recovering from hepatitis, many of the body’s immune systems recover. However, if it becomes infected for many days, treatment is needed.
Secretary General of the National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh. Mohammad Ali, ‘Lately, some good drugs have been developed for treating hepatitis C. They can also be taken by mouth. These drugs are proving effective in 80 to 90 percent of cases.
He said that although the disease was detected at an early stage, very good results were obtained. Good results are found even in the early stages of cirrhosis. However, if it’s too late or if it becomes cancerous, it doesn’t work much anymore.
However, these drugs are quite expensive. For example, it costs between 80 and 90 thousand rupees for three months of medicine. Several organizations, like the Liver Foundation, help.
Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali says that in rural Bangladesh, many people think of jaundice as a national liver hepatitis disease and seek Kabiraj, Jharfunk and rural treatment. As a result of these incidents, many people’s bodies are seriously damaged. When they come to the doctor, the doctors no longer have to do anything.
Although the hepatitis B vaccine has proven to be quite effective, no hepatitis C vaccine has yet been discovered.
Again, in most districts outside of Dhaka, there is no good system for hepatitis C testing or liver treatment.
According to the World Health Organization, treatment opportunities for hepatitis C in the world are still very limited. Only 19 percent of the world’s victims are receiving medical care.
As a result, doctors recommend focusing on treating the disease rather than treatment.
Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali says that since there is no vaccine, it is better to take personal protection measures. Here are some suggestions:
-Don’t use the same syringe repeatedly
-Do not use needles used by others
-Do not draw blood without examination or from unknown source
-Take protection when using any equipment
-Blood tests at least twice a year, so that if it becomes infected, it can be treated at first.
-Keep distance from family members if you are infected
What is the government of Bangladesh doing to prevent hepatitis C.
The World Health Organization has set a series of targets for the prevention and eradication of hepatitis by 2030.
Dr Sania Tahmina, former director of the Bangladesh health department’s Center for Disease Control, told BBC Bangla that the health department’s disease control department has several programs to prevent hepatitis.
There are plans to expand the hepatitis B vaccine. But there has not been a national vaccination program like polio or measles.
Since no vaccine for the hepatitis C virus has yet been discovered, the expert advises caution and regular blood tests.
Source: BBC
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