CHENNAI: Experts have called for campaigns to promote screening for the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), which is currently estimated to have put around 15 million patients in the country at risk of fatal liver damage.

The core message: although anyone can get Hepatitis C, the viral infection is totally preventable by following safe methods while undergoing blood transfusion, visiting the local saloon or having a tooth extracted. The risk of virus transmission through sex was relatively less, experts said.

Though a vaccine was yet to be developed for HCV, the common genotype of the virus in the Indian population was responsive to treatment with therapies such as interferon, said Shiv Kumar Sarin, Head of Gastroenterology, G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi. While the success rate in treatment of US genotypes was around 50 per cent, it was around 80 per cent in relation with the common virus genotypes in India.

Dr. Sarin was in Chennai on Saturday to deliver the inaugural oration on current concepts in diagnosis and management of Hepatitis C instituted by MedIndia Hospitals.

Dr. Sarin, who also leads the ICMR's National Task Force of HCV, pointed out that though developed countries used Nucleic Acid Technology for HCV screening, the option in India was to undertake the SGPT or marker of liver injury a few months after one has visited a blood donation unit or dental centre.

Epidemiological surveys by University of Madras had indicated a Hepatitis B seroprevalence of 4 per cent and Hepatitis C seroprevalence of 1.2 per cent in Tamil Nadu which was more or less consistent with rates in the country, said Dr. S. P. Thyagarajan, Vice-Chancellor.

The survey was conducted by the University's Institute of Basic Medical Sciences which was a national referral centre for viral hepatitis.

Dr. Thyagarajan stressed the importance of screening antenatal women to prevent mother-child transmission of the virus.

T. S. Chandrasekar, Chief Gastroenterologist, MedIndia, pointed out that occupation-wise, doctors and nurses were at increased risk of HCV infection. Preventive measures included using protective wear.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail