Hepatitis B most common cause of chronic liver disease
Varanasi | Wednesday, Nov 25 2009 IST
 

'Hepatitis B' has emerged as the most deadly and common cause of chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, worldwide. Talking to newspersons here today, Dr V K Dixit, the Head of department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Medical Science, Banaras Hindu University said Hepatitis B virus infection was a global health problem. Nearly two billion people in the world have been infected by Hepatitis B Virus and nearly 400 million people are chronically infected. At least 15 to 20 per cent of chronically infected people will die due to liver disease, he warned.

It is much more infectious and dangerous then AIDs virus and Hepatitis C, the medico asserted.

Dr Dixit said an effective vaccine was available for over two decades that has brought remarkable changes in the global epidemology of Hepatitis B Virus infection. There is prevalence of around five per cent in India and about 45 millions were affected.

He said that there was wide variation in its prevalence in different regions of the country and the highest prevalence was in Arunchal Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar. He said it has been estimated that the one got infected by horizontal transmission in childhood and adolescence. Perinatal transmission plays a lesser role, he added.

-- (UNI) -- 25DR67.xml

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