Hyderabad Doctors Urge Early Screening Ahead of World Hepatitis Day

Ahead of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, gastroenterologists in Hyderabad warned against the rising burden of viral hepatitis and urged high-risk individuals to undergo routine screening and vaccination to prevent severe liver complications.

Speaking on this year's theme, 'Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,' medical experts noted that Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C remain leading causes of liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer in India. According to the World Health Organisation, viral hepatitis causes nearly 1.3 million deaths globally each year. India accounts for approximately 29 million people living with chronic Hepatitis B and 5.5 million with chronic Hepatitis C, with many cases remaining undiagnosed due to a lack of early symptoms.

Dr. Raghuram Kondala, a gastroenterologist, highlighted that hepatitis often progresses silently without noticeable symptoms while gradually damaging the liver. He advised people with diabetes, obesity, previous blood transfusions, a family history of liver disease, those on dialysis, and healthcare workers to get screened even if they feel healthy.

Doctors explained that Hepatitis A and E spread primarily through contaminated food and water, whereas Hepatitis B and C transmit through infected blood, unsafe injections, contaminated needles, unprotected sex, and from mother to child during childbirth.

Dr. Akash Chaudhary, gastroenterologist, emphasized that Hepatitis B can be prevented through vaccination, while Hepatitis C can now be cured in most patients using antiviral medications. He stated that simple blood tests conducted before liver damage develops can prevent liver failure, liver cancer, and the need for liver transplantation.

Reinforcing the call for early detection, Dr. K. Bala Murali Krishna, gastroenterologist and hepatologist, described viral hepatitis as a silent killer because symptoms usually appear only after significant disease progression. He stressed the importance of administering the Hepatitis B vaccine to every newborn and urged adults at high risk to consult doctors regarding vaccination.

Dr. Krishna added that early testing, vaccination, and timely medical intervention are vital to preventing long-term liver damage and supporting India's goal to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.