‘’Hepatitis Contagion is 95% Effective in Preventing Chronic Infection’’

Hepatitis viruses, which continue to be a serious public health problem for the world as a whole, can reach life-threatening dimensions if necessary measures are not taken. Infectious diseases and clinical microbiology experts remind that chronic infections can be prevented by transplantation of hepatitis by 95 percent. Dr. Meral Sönmezoğlu said, “Thousands of people continue to live their lives without knowing that they have hepatitis because they progress without giving symptoms. Vaccination rates should be increased to prevent potential risks.”

“Hepatitis is a serious health problem thatins its global importance in terms of the diseases it causes. Although there are different types, including A, B, C, D and E, it is important to note that it is especially important in terms of the outcomes caused by hepatitis B and C. Yeditepe University Hospitals Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Meral Sönmezoğlu noted that around 350 million people around the world are living with hepatitis B and C, causing hundreds of thousands of people to develop chronic diseases.

‘’Hepatitis Is Not Known To Be A Treatable Disease”

On World Hepatitis Day, Prof. Dr. Dr. Sönmezoğlu pointed out that this picture will not change unless there is a social awareness on the subject. “Despite the fact that 3 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis B and C each year and 1.1 million people die each year from hepatite, 10% of chronic hepatites B cases and only 21% of cases are diagnosed, the remaining patients continue to live their lives without knowing they are Hepatitis,”. Dr. Sönmezoğlu said, “Hepatitis is a treatable and even completely eliminable disease, but unfortunately, because it is still not sufficiently known, the numbers go up every day.”

‘’One life, one liver”

As part of the WHO’s Hepatitis Awareness Studies in 2023, the theme “One Life, One Liver” highlights the importance of healthy liver to lead a healthy life. Sönmezoğlu said, “In this context, in order to protect against diseases such as liver cirrhosis, cancer, prevention of hepatitis, early diagnosis and proper treatment are also of vital importance.”
“It goes without symptoms.”

Hepatitis B and C progress without symptoms over the years, but if not noticed, it can lead to very serious consequences, including liver cancer and cirrhosis. Dr. Sönmezoğlu continued: “The World Health Organization continues its intense work on this issue. We know that transplantation in some types of hepatitis is very important in preventing diseases. This is why countries need to develop policy awareness on this basis. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Hepatitis Strategy aims to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% between 2016 and 2030.

Get vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Vaccines are a very important weapon to protect against hepatitis B infection, which is responsible for the appearance of the picture that can reach up to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Dr. Sönmezoğlu continued: “The pathways of hepatitis B transmission include from mother to baby at birth, from child to child, unprotected sexual contact and unsafe injections and blood transfusions. However, as most people misunderstand, the virus is not transmitted by using common areas such as breastfeeding, handshaking, scratching or swimming pools. But the most important method of protection is vaccination. The hepatitis B vaccine, which is widely used worldwide today, has a power of about 95 percent in preventing the development of chronic infections.

Hepatitis B Vaccine is Free in Risk Groups in Our Country

It is estimated that about 3 and a half million people in Turkey have hepatitis B, and 750 thousand people have Hepatitis C. Dr. Since 1998, hepatitis B vaccines have been given free of charge to all newborns and those admitted to the risk group in our country. The number of people infected with these transplant programs has decreased seriously.”

It is possible to reduce the risk of hepatitis C with early diagnosis and treatment.

Although there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, another important virus in terms of the risks it can create in the liver, Yeditepe University Hospitals Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Meral Sönmezoğlu continued: “Today, it is estimated that there are about 750 thousand patients with hepatitis C in our country. Worldwide, hepatitis C is mostly transmitted by transfusion of contaminated blood and blood products. In our country, although there is no precise information about the most common form of infection, it is possible to say that since the decision to scan all blood for the hepatitis C virus, which began in 1996, the infection has decreased significantly.”