Scientific evidence proves that the liver is the
largest and hardest working organ in the body of every human. It performs over
500 functions daily to ensure sound and a well-balanced human health. The liver
is derived from the word ‘live’ indicating life survives on the liver. The
state of the liver has a direct bearing on human health and life expectancy.
However, the
liver isn't often the subject of much cocktail party conversation. People love
to talk about their blood pressure level, cholesterol level, sugar level, body
mass index and diet either at home, workplaces or wherever they meet as a
group. But how often do you hear someone say, ‘My Liver Function Test looks
good all the time.’
The liver gets
very little recognition from the general public and is in fact, often abused by
most people and especially modern diets and bad lifestyles.
According to
some hepatologists, there is up to 99% chance your liver is not performing at
its very best. In fact, this organ manufactures a full quart of bile daily to
breakdown fat. It’s also responsible for filtering harmful toxins and
substances out of nearly 100 gallons of blood daily and produces more than
13,000 crucial chemicals and hormones.
The liver is
also responsible for regulating blood sugar levels, cholesterol, hormones and
also stores essential vitamins and minerals. It is also responsible for
detoxifying all internal and external environmental pollutants.
However, one must know that a number of diseases can afflict the
human liver, including hepatitis –A form of liver inflammation; Liver cancer; Cirrhosis
–chronic inflammation often caused by alcohol abuse, chronic hepatitis B and C;
Diseases of the bile ducts and Fatty liver disease that can ultimately lead to
liver failure. Having
hepatitis means that the functions of the liver have been compromised and life
expectancy is being reduced.
So, in the wake of increasing deaths emanating from the attack
of for instance hepatitis B (the commonest liver disease) which can be acquired
through various forms including (unprotected sex, transfusion of contaminated
blood, body fluids, sharing of tooth brushes, contaminated needles and syringes
and tattooing/tribal marking), this article brings to bear, the debilitating
effects of the disease, how to seek treatment and what can be done to prevent
further spread of the epidemic which if not tackled with a sense of urgency,
could seriously compound the fight against HIV and AIDS! The truth is, an HIV
or AIDS patient with hepatitis B has very little chance of surviving, according
to medical doctors.
Causes of hepatitis
Hepatitis is
most simply defined as an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis has various
causes. According to different research
outcomes, it can come from a viral infection, an attack by parasites, a
transfusion of contaminated blood, or unhealthy substances that are introduced
into the human body like alcohol, drugs, or toxins. Hepatitis may or may not be
a serious health threat. However, hepatitis in certain circumstances can become
chronic and can even lead to liver failure and death when it’s detected very
late. Many laboratory investigations have revealed that there are several types
of hepatitis, and they are given alphabetical names.
Types of hepatitis
Hepatitis A:
It’s a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is generally spread by
coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. Hepatitis A is
highly contagious, but it doesn't cause chronic liver disease. A vaccine for Hepatitis
A is available.
Hepatitis
B:
It’s called serum hepatitis. Hepatitis B is a blood-borne viral disease caused
by the hepatitis B virus or HBV and is one of the most common infectious
diseases in the world. It can be acute or chronic. Most healthy adults (90%)
who are infected will recover and develop protective antibodies against future
hepatitis B infections. A small number (5-10%) will be unable to get rid of the
virus and will develop chronic infections. Unfortunately, this is not true for
infants and young children – 90% of infants and up to 50% of young children
infected with hepatitis B will develop chronic infections. Therefore,
vaccination is essential to protect infants and children. The virus is passed
from an infected person to another through blood and body fluids like semen and
breast milk. Symptoms of the disease may
include tiredness, nausea and stomach pain and weight loss. They also can
include not feeling hungry or feeling pain in the joints. In some people, the
skin and eyes may become yellow. A person’s urine may be dark coloured and the
stools or bowel movement may be whitish. Only about 30 percent of people with
hepatitis B have any symptoms. A vaccine for Hepatitis B is available and can
protect one up to ten years.
Hepatitis C: It’s a liver disease
caused by the Hepatitis C Virus or HCV. HCV infection sometimes results in an
acute symptomatic illness. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting
a few weeks to a serious, lifelong chronic condition that can lead to cirrhosis
of the liver and liver cancer. Unlike HBV which is transmitted sexually and
through other means, HCV is only transmitted through contact with the blood of
an infected person. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 130
– 170 million people are chronically infected with HCV, and more than 350,000
people die from hepatitis C-related liver diseases each year. HCV infection is
curable using increasingly effective antivirals. Despite ongoing research,
there is currently no vaccine to prevent HCV infection. It is estimated that 3 –
4 million people are infected with HCV each year. HCV infection is found
worldwide. Countries with high rates of chronic infection are Egypt (22%),
Pakistan (4.8%) and China (3.2%). The main mode of transmission in these
countries is attributed to unsafe injections using contaminated equipment.
There is no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis D: It’s
caused by the Hepatitis D virus. The Hepatitis D virus needs the Hepatitis B
virus to survive. Sometimes people with Hepatitis B also get Hepatitis D
because both are passed from one person to the other through blood and body
fluids.
Hepatitis
E: This is caused by the Hepatitis E virus. Similar to the hepatitis A
virus, it is spread by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected
person.
Hepatitis
G: Not much is known about the Hepatitis G virus or even if it causes
illness. It may be transmitted through contaminated blood in blood
transfusions.
However, medical doctors
advice persons who suspect they have any of the types of hepatitis, to go to an
approved medical laboratory/hospital for samples of their blood to be taken for
a test. When the test result is reactive or positive, your
medical doctor will ask you to do what is called viral load; (Viral
load is the amount of virus in the blood). A lesser amount of virus
means there is less risk for serious liver disease. If the results of the viral
load test shows you have more virus, you may be asked to do a liver function
test to determine how healthy your liver is before any treatment is given to
you depending on how serious your case may be. A person with HBV is given some of the most effective
drugs (lamivudine, lyvomyn, heptovit, interferon and antivirals) for the treatment of the
disease. But if the laboratory test result for the disease is non-reactive or
negative, you will be asked to take the hepatitis B vaccine for protection. However,
HBV cannot be spread by casual contact, such as holding hands, sharing eating
utensils or drinking glasses, breast-feeding, kissing, hugging, coughing, or
sneezing.
A
recent survey conducted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana revealed that an
estimated 4 million people in Ghana have HBV. It is imperative
therefore, to create nationwide awareness about the importance of the liver and
its implications on the health of mankind. It is important to note that, a liver
problem like HBV is dangerous – and if government is not alarmed, it is certain
that it is waiting for a major epidemic explosion or health disaster.
Steps government should immediately consider
The government through the
Ghana Health Service (GHS) should immediately embark on a free nationwide
vaccination of persons who have not yet been infected with the HBV and also
make available vaccines at the various public hospitals across the country for
newly born babies to be vaccinated. The disease should be taken care of like
other diseases such as HIV and AIDS, malaria, CSM, guinea worm, and among
others, coupled with public education in the electronic media. Anything short
of this means that the 4 million figure is bound to increase astronomically in
the next few years.
Treatment of HBV is very
costly than HIV. In fact, the cheapest drugs one can get for the treatment of
the disease include lamivudine, lyvomyn, heptovit, among others needed to be
taken every month and perhaps for a lifetime. The most effective treatment
could cost as much as between GH¢5,000.00 and GH¢10,000.00. Thus, government
should seriously consider including some of the medications or treatment of HBV
in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Besides, the GHS should
conduct extensive research on HBV which is the commonest liver disease currently
in the system so as to determine the number of persons living with the virus so
that an effective policy by government could be rolled out towards its fight or
eradication. This is because several laboratory results in private and public
health institutions indicate that many people have contracted the disease.
Furthermore, the GHS should
consider establishing something similar to the Ghana AIDS Commission and charge
it with the mandate and responsibility of controlling or fighting the disease
nationwide.
Meanwhile, W.H.O global
projections suggest that 10-30 million people will become infected each year by
HBV, while an estimated 1 million people will also die each year from the
disease and its complications. Approximately 2 people die each minute from HBV.
Having Hepatitis B means that your liver is not hundred percent functional and
life expectancy thus reduces at a very fast spate.
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