المملكة: Prevention and early screening bring the world closer to eliminating viral hepatitis

Specialists have confirmed that World Viral Hepatitis Day represents an important occasion to raise awareness of one of the most prominent global health challenges, in light of the continued presence of millions of undiagnosed cases, noting that the expansion of vaccination programs, raising community awareness, early screening, and the great development in diagnostic and treatment methods have made eliminating viral hepatitis an achievable goal, if preventive and therapeutic efforts continue.
Speaking to Al-Youm on the occasion of World Viral Hepatitis Day, they explained that hepatitis viruses differ in their modes of transmission and severity, but adherence to vaccinations, following sound health practices, and conducting examinations for the groups most at risk of infection represent the basic pillars for limiting the spread of infection and reducing complications, in line with the World Health Organization’s goals to eliminate the disease by 2030.

Prevention is the first line of defense

Dr. Mona Abdul Hadi Shaqdar, consultant for biomolecules and microbiology, and head of risk management and infection control at the regional laboratory in Riyadh, confirmed that viral hepatitis includes five main types “A, B, C, D, and E,” which differ in their modes of transmission. Types A and E are most often transmitted through contaminated food or water, while types B, C, and D are transmitted through blood or body fluids.

She explained that prevention represents the basic foundation for reducing the spread of infection, by adhering to food safety requirements, applying infection control procedures in health facilities, ensuring the safety of blood and its derivatives, not sharing personal or sharp tools, immediately reporting needlestick injuries, in addition to obtaining the hepatitis B vaccine, which is considered one of the most effective vaccines in preventing the disease.
She added that the Ministry of Health recommends testing for groups most at risk of infection, such as contacts of positive cases, those with a family history, or who have had blood transfusions or surgeries before 1990, patients with hereditary blood diseases and dialysis, and those who suffer from high liver enzymes or have behaviors that increase the risk of transmission of infection.
She pointed out that targeted screening programs have contributed to discovering undiagnosed cases early, and the treatment of hepatitis C has witnessed significant development that has led to high rates of recovery, stressing that eliminating the disease requires continued awareness, and expansion of vaccination, screening, and treatment, in order to achieve the goals of the World Health Organization by 2030.

Diagnosis makes the difference

Infectious diseases consultant Dr. Alyan Al Alyan confirmed that viral hepatitis is still one of the most prominent health challenges globally, but the great development in means of prevention, diagnosis and treatment has contributed to significantly reducing its effects and complications. He explained that eliminating the disease is no longer an unattainable goal, but has become possible thanks to the expansion of vaccination programs, advances in diagnostic methods, and modern treatments, stressing that raising awareness of the importance of early detection represents the most influential factor, because many infected people do not show symptoms in the early stages.

He pointed out that recent years have witnessed major therapeutic developments, as vaccines have contributed to reducing infection rates, while modern treatments for hepatitis C have achieved cure rates exceeding 95% in most cases, while treatments for hepatitis B have become able to control the virus and significantly reduce its complications, which has reflected positively on the quality of life of patients. He called for adherence to safe health practices, conducting examination when there are risk factors, and not hesitating in seeking medical care, stressing that awareness, vaccination and early examination form the basis for achieving the goals of eliminating viral hepatitis and protecting community health.

The importance of early examination and treatment to achieve recovery

Dr. Abdullah Saeed Qazi Al-Ghamdi, Consultant in Liver Diseases and Transplantation, Digestive System Diseases and Endoscopy at King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah, confirmed that World Viral Hepatitis Day represents an opportunity to enhance awareness of one of the diseases that most affects public health, especially with the presence of many undiagnosed cases, which makes early examination and appropriate treatment necessary to reduce complications.

He explained that the five hepatitis viruses differ in their methods of transmission, the nature of the disease, and complications, indicating that hepatitis A and E are mostly transmitted through contaminated food or water and do not usually turn into a chronic disease, while infection with viruses B and C may turn into a chronic infection that leads to cirrhosis or liver cancer if they are not diagnosed and treated early, while virus D depends on the presence of virus B, and increases the risk of liver complications.
He added that the hepatitis A and B vaccines provide protection exceeding 95%, and that the Kingdom has achieved great success in the vaccination program against hepatitis B, as its prevalence among the population decreased from about 8% to 1.3% after the implementation of the national vaccination program.
He pointed out that many people infected, especially with viruses B and C, may not show any symptoms for years, so it is recommended that testing be conducted for contacts, health workers, dialysis patients, those with immunodeficiency, those who received blood transfusions before 1992, and the groups most vulnerable to infection.
He stressed that modern therapeutic developments have brought about a radical transformation in the treatment of hepatitis C, as oral medications have achieved cure rates exceeding 95% within a short treatment period. National programs for free testing and treatment in the Kingdom have also contributed to reducing the spread of the virus to low levels, in support of efforts aimed at eliminating it by 2030.