Hepatitis B more dangerous, infectious than HIV – Experts warn

Medical experts have advised Nigerians to avoid sharing razors, toothbrushes and to practice safe sex to avoid getting infected with the Hepatitis B Virus, noting that it is far more dangerous and infectious than the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, as it causes liver damage, liver cancer and even death.

The experts said though Hepatitis B has no cure, Nigerians should get vaccinated as a form of protection against the virus.

According to the World Health Organisation, Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the HBV virus, and it interferes with the functions of the liver, causing pathological damage.

The WHO noted that a small percentage of infected people cannot get rid of the virus and go on to become chronically infected, adding that such people are at higher risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.

The global health body said the virus is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during delivery, in early childhood, contact with blood or other bodily fluids during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections or exposures to sharp instruments.

The WHO estimates that 296 million people were living with chronic Hepatitis B infection in 2019, with 1.5 million new infections recorded each year.

It noted that in 2019, Hepatitis B resulted in an estimated 820, 000 deaths, mostly from cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccines that are safe, available and effective, WHO added.

“The vaccine is usually given soon after birth with boosters a few weeks later. It offers nearly 100% protection against the virus.

“Hepatitis B is a major global health problem. The burden of infection is highest in the WHO Western Pacific Region and the WHO African Region, where 116 million and 81 million people, respectively, are chronically infected.

“Sixty million people are infected in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, 18 million in the WHO South-East Asia Region, 14 million in the WHO European Region and five million in the WHO Region of the Americas.”

Shedding more light on Hepatitis B, a Family Physician and Consultant Gynaecologist at Epe General Hospital, Epe, Lagos, Dr. Cynthia Okafor, said Hepatitis B cannot be cured and since available drugs cannot eradicate the virus, HBV becomes quite difficult to deal with.

She said, “The drug we have now can reduce the viral load of the patient from having liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, which seemed to be a rising issue in our environment. But when integrated into a patient’s DNA, it becomes most difficult to eradicate.”

The physician said a lot of people have died from complications arising from Hepatitis B and urged the federal and state governments to assist patients with the virus by procuring medications and making HBV vaccination available and accessible.

On mode of transmission and symptoms Dr. Okafor noted that the virus can be transmitted through exposure to infective blood, transfusion of contaminated blood, use of contaminated injections during medical procedures, among others.

“The symptoms of acute and chronic hepatitis B include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colour stools, joint pain, and jaundice. Any person that has any or some of these symptoms, should see his or her physician quickly,” she advised.

In a report titled, ‘Hepatitis B Virus Epidemiology’, written by Jennifer MacLachlan and Benjamin Cowie, and published in the National Library of Medicine, the authors said the burden of adverse outcomes related to hepatitis B on individuals and communities, particularly in high-prevalence populations, is increasingly recognised.

They further said although ensuring high coverage of infant vaccination would have a profound impact on the disease burden in coming decades, attention must be given to comprehensive policy responses now.

“Understanding the epidemiology of HBV infection will enable evidence-based and cost-effective public health and clinical interventions within countries and at the global level, thereby preventing the adverse outcomes of Hepatitis B,” the authors stated.