LAHORE: Vaccination against hepatitis B and C is especially crucial for pregnant women as these diseases can be transmitted to babies during childbirth.
This was highlighted by Professor of Medicine at King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital Lahore Dr. Israrul Haq Toor during a special lecture for medical students on Wednesday.
He emphasized the importance of vaccination to protect mothers and their children from hepatitis. He noted that hepatitis C treatment is now more successful with oral drugs than with injections, which have negligible side effects. He urged citizens to avoid sleeping pills and cough syrups if they have liver problems to avoid further complications.
Symptoms of hepatitis A, he explained, include loss of appetite, irritability, fatigue, yellowing of the eyes and skin, and restlessness. Dr. Toor revealed that hepatitis B and C are spreading rapidly in society due to carelessness, lack of knowledge and neglect of preventive measures. The rising death rate from hepatitis is alarming and many people avoid blood tests due to stigma, leading to late diagnosis and treatment problems.
For effective prevention of hepatitis, he urged doctors and outreach workers to actively identify patients in the community and promote voluntary blood tests for hepatitis C. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to control the spread of the disease, he said.
He emphasized that hepatitis is a curable disease with proper care and treatment. To deal with its causes, he advocated strictly avoiding the repeated use of disposable syringes and ensuring that patients received the blood tested. He also stressed the importance of cleanliness of surgical, dental and barber tools. He appealed to the citizens to follow hygiene rules, use boiled water and avoid eating spoiled fruits and vegetables to control the disease. Dr. Toor called on NGOs and health volunteers to join the government’s efforts in this critical public health campaign.
