Dhaka: Hepatitis B virus is the leading cause of liver cancer in Bangladesh, accounting for nearly 66 percent of all liver cancer cases. About 10 million people in the country are carrying the virus, which is 5.4 percent of the total population. Alarmingly, a large number of these people are unknowingly acting as sources of transmission.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Associate Professor and Head of the Hepatology Department at Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Hospital, Dr ABM Shakil Gani, discussed hepatitis prevention, treatment, and public awareness in detail. He stated that tests for Anti-HBc Total have shown that one in every three people in Bangladesh carries this antibody in their body, indicating that a vast number of people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus at some point in their lives, often without being aware of it.
Dr Shakil Gani noted that the prevalence of hepatitis C virus is comparatively lower, with about 0.84 percent of the population-around 15 lakh people-infected with hepatitis C, which is responsible for nearly 5 percent of liver cancer cases in the country. He emphasized that one out of every ten patients admitted to medicine departments suffers from some form of liver disease. However, he highlighted that most liver diseases are preventable and, in many cases, completely curable, with almost all modern treatments for liver diseases now available in Bangladesh.
Explaining hepatitis B and C, Dr Shakil Gani described hepatitis as an inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses that attack the liver, multiply inside liver cells, and destroy them, leading to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer. He explained that hepatitis B and C viruses are mainly transmitted through blood and body fluids, including contaminated syringes, unsafe blood transfusions, transmission from an infected mother to her child at birth, unprotected sexual contact, and contact with open wounds.
Dr Shakil Gani emphasized that hepatitis does not spread through sharing food, living together, or normal social interaction. He highlighted the risks faced by healthcare workers, stating that doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and dentists are at higher risk due to frequent exposure to blood and body fluids. He stressed the importance of hepatitis B vaccination for all healthcare workers.
Discussing the role of physicians in controlling hepatitis, Dr Shakil Gani emphasized the importance of raising awareness among the general public about modes of transmission, prevention, and vaccination. He encouraged patients to inform family members without unnecessary fear or social stigma and advised regular follow-up for infected individuals over 40 years of age. He also recommended hepatitis B vaccination for newborns and high-risk groups, promoting safe medical practices, and ensuring early diagnosis and timely treatment to prevent complications.
Regarding hepatitis B treatment, Dr Shakil Gani dispelled the notion that there is no treatment for hepatitis B, stating that it often requires long-term treatment similar to diabetes or high blood pressure. He warned against the indiscriminate use of steroid drugs, which can reactivate the hepatitis B virus. He advised infected patients to regularly consult liver specialists and recommended that everyone above the age of 20 take the hepatitis B vaccine.
Dr Shakil Gani stressed the importance of drinking safe water and getting tested for hepatitis C after receiving blood or undergoing major surgery. He noted that hepatitis C is now completely curable with just three months of treatment, and medicines are readily available in Bangladesh. He reiterated that hepatitis does not spread through social interaction and advocated for awareness, timely vaccination, and safe medical practices to protect people from this silent killer.