Liver diseases often go undetected; doctors call for early screening and awareness

304 million people living worldwide live with chronic hepatitis B or C, in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO). 254 million of them are hepatitis B and 50 million hepatitis C. The disease causes approximately 1.3 million deaths per year. India is more than 11.6% of the global burden, and about 29.8 million people live 5.5 million with hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Hepatitis is the most commonly caused by viral infections, inflammation of the liver, mainly hepatitis A, B, C, D and E may become chronic between Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, potentially cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer. Transmission of non -secure injections, blood transfusions, sexual contact or birth may occur during the child to the child to the child.

Despite the scale, most infections are not diagnosed until complications occur. Doctors say this is due to uncertain early symptoms, inadequate scanning and widespread misunderstandings.

Chennai, Liver Transplant Surgeon Vivekanandan Shanmigam, “In the early stages liver problem fatigue, loss of appetite or light abdominal pain – easily overlooked symptoms may occur,” he said. “Even signs such as dark urine or yellowing of the eyes are ignored. As a result, patients are usually late.”

Hepatitis B and C scan was recommended for high -risk groups, those who had blood transfusions before the 1990s, those with dialysis patients and health workers were proposed, but the application continued to remain irregular. “Many people don’t know that they need to be tested. Especially in peripheral areas, I have stigmatization and bad access,” he said.

Shanmugam also marked the effect of painkillers and irregular herbal supplements on the counter. “Long -term abuse of common drugs such as paracetamol or herbal mixture can quietly damage the liver.”

Radhika Venugopal, Senior Advisor – Hepatology, Liver Disease and Transplantation, Rela Hospital, Chennai, Nausea, Fatigue or weight loss, such as symptoms such as usually ignored, he said. “When jaundice, swelling or bleeding occurs, the damage usually progresses. Liver function tests and scans can help to detect problems early,” he said.

Hepatitis test, especially in rural environments, said it is not well integrated into routine health services. “Pregnant women, people with HIV and those who enter surgery or dialysis should be scanned, but the application is weak.”

Dr. Venugopal also marked the increase in “lean MAFLD” (metabolic -related fatty liver disease) in people with normal weight but underlying metabolic problems. “Vehicles like Fibroscan help to identify it early.”

Doctors recommend hepatitis B vaccination, avoiding excessive alcohol, limiting self -spraying, and routine controls. Shanmugam said, “Silence is quiet until the liver is too late.”