90% Chronic Hepatitis patients are asymptomatic, and need thorough investigations to reduce fatalities

– Drugs to treat Covid-19 too pose a high risk of aggravating underlying liver ailments like Hepatitis

Hyderabad, July 27, 2020: Hepatitis is a condition of severe inflammation of the liver tissues that could even result into fatality. And in almost 90% of the cases, people suffering from chronic hepatitis related ailments do not show symptoms, making it difficult for assessment unless the victim undergoes a thorough investigation. On the eve of World Hepatitis Day 2020, it is important people understand the role of screening in asymptomatic and undiagnosed hepatitis patients with possible chronic conditions.

Covids-19 can cause subtle liver infections, and if there is a pre-existing liver condition, the drugs used to treat this new pandemic viral infection will lead to further worsening of the liver problem. Drugs given to treat Covid-19 are known for potential hemato-toxicity i.e., risks to liver and if patients have undiagnosed chronic hepatitis, they can have a reactivation of the condition.

There are two groups of Hepatitis patients. One category, particularly in the case of Hepatitis-B, remains carriers for many years with a small risk of reactivation of the virus in due course. In Hepatitis-C, the low-grade chronic infection will lead to chronic liver disease and Cirrhosis in later years. There is another group of patients who may not have diagnosed hepatitis but maybe at the risk of developing sudden reactivation of hepatitis.

Commenting on the ailment, Dr Santosh Kumar Enaganti, Senior Consultant Medical Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist, Continental Hospitals said, “Many people wonder if they do not have any signs and symptoms of liver damage like jaundice, abdominal swelling or abnormal blood test, then why they should undergo screening! With the chronic hepatitis, there is a phase in the disease where the patients can be normal, without any symptoms and their blood tests also maybe normal. However, they may have chronic low-grade viral infection in the liver, which would necessitate urgent attention.”

“Those patients, who are newly diagnosed with a condition such as lymphoma or cancer where they require chemotherapy, are at enhanced risk. Chemotherapy results in immunosuppression, which leads to reactivation of Hepatitis. Hence, it is important that such patients are constantly checked for Hepatitis-B status, as post therapy they may be recovering from the actual problem, but they may suddenly have jaundice and have abnormal liver tests leading to reactivation and liver failure. This will happen more commonly with Hepatitis-B,” added Dr Santosh.

As far as Hepatitis-C is concerned, sometimes steroids are administered that reactivate or aggravate smoldering Hepatitis-C, increasing the risk of progression of liver disease and decompensation in due course. So it is very important to know that there is no chronic undiagnosed Hepatitis B or C in situations where the patient is put through immunosuppressive therapy, to prevent reactivation because the morbidity and mortality rate among patients with reactivated conditions is often high. Often, patients can present with liver tumours for the first time as chronic hepatitis patients are at higher risk of developing liver tumours. However, one can monitor with regular ultrasound scans if we know that someone has chronic hepatitis.

Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)