The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Caution against jaundice outbreak

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Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Caution against jaundice outbreak

Jaundice is caused by different strains of Hepatitis virus which spread though food, water contamination

HYDERABAD: Even as monsoon showers were received on Monday after a long gap, noted gastroenterologist D. Nageshwar Reddy cautioned people to take precautions as an epidemic of jaundice hits the city “almost every year” during rainy season.

Jaundice is caused by different strains of Hepatitis virus, with ‘A’ and ‘E’ viruses ordinarily occurring in epidemic forms. Both the strains spread through food and water contamination. Hepatitis ‘A’ is seen mostly in children. Adults get infected by Hepatitis ‘E’.

He told The Hindu that while an increase in jaundice in the endemic form was being witnessed, “we expect an epidemic once the rains come”. Listing out the precautions, he said drinking water should be boiled to ensure that there was no sewage contamination. In case there was difficulty in boiling, standard filters should be used.

Precautions

The other don’ts suggested by Dr. Reddy include avoiding eating cut fruits and salads, “dahi wadas and chat foods like bhelpuri and paani puri.” Uncovered sweets were also a source of contamination, he said. Washing hands with soap before eating food was a must as the virus ‘hides’ under the nails.

He urged hotels to ensure that cooks and waiters were checked for the virus, as a routine blood test would reveal its presence.

While jaundice mostly affects the poor, it would not spare any section once it takes an epidemic form. This lesson was learnt after an epidemic broke out two years ago in South Mumbai where even doctors, including gastroenterologists, were infected.

He attributed increase in endemic jaundice to viral infection caused by Hepatitis ‘B’, ‘C’, alcohol consumption and presence of duct stones.

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