Medical Panels Urge Universal Adult Screening to Combat Silent Hepatitis Epidemic
Specialists at a recent medical forum emphasized that mandatory screening for adults is essential to prevent chronic liver failure. While vaccines protect against types A and B, the asymptomatic nature of types B and C requires lifelong vigilance.
The Hierarchy of Viral Risks
Hepatitis involves liver inflammation triggered by five primary viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. Speaking at a webinar hosted by Kauvery Hospital for World Hepatitis Day, interventional gastroenterologist Dr. A. Shafique categorized these threats by their long-term severity. While types A and E typically present lower risks of chronic illness, Hepatitis B and C pose lethal threats due to their potential to trigger liver cancer. These infections often operate as silent killers, showing no outward symptoms in their early stages while gradually destroying organ function.
From Inflammation to Irreversible Damage
The progression from initial infection to liver failure is a phased process of physical degradation. Dr. Swati Raju, a senior consultant in transplant hepatology, noted that persistent inflammation leads to fibrosis, or scarring. Left unchecked, this develops into cirrhosis, where regenerative liver tissue is entirely replaced by non-functional scar tissue.
- Hepatitis B: Often necessitates lifelong medical management to suppress the virus.
- Hepatitis C: Curable through a specific course of antiviral drugs, even though a vaccine does not yet exist.
- Surveillance: Both strains require annual monitoring, as patients remain at risk for tumors even when the virus appears inactive.
Clinical Recommendations and Lifestyle Interventions
To interrupt the transmission of these pathogens, Dr. U.V.U. Vamsidhar Reddy stressed the utility of existing vaccines for Hepatitis A and B. For Hepatitis C, the medical community relies on aggressive antiviral therapies in the absence of a preventative shot. Beyond clinical treatment, experts argue that lifestyle adjustments are mandatory to slow the advancement of existing liver disease. Dr. Shafique called for a universal screening policy targeting all adults over age 18, with a high priority placed on pregnant women and individuals with existing comorbidities. The session, moderated by The Hindu’s Meenakshy S., concluded that early detection remains the only viable path to preventing terminal cirrhosis and the subsequent need for transplants.
Source: The Hindu — Home
