• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Expert warns on the dangers of Hepatitis virus

hepatitis symptoms

Oluwatosin Fakayode, a medical doctor and director of public health, Kwara Ministry of Health, has said that Hepatitis is more deadly than Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Fakayode, who made the disclosure during the ongoing hepatitis screening across the state warned youths to get screened for the deadly disease.

The medical expert explained to students and staffs of the College of Education, Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara that hepatitis B is more dangerous than HIV, adding that women were at higher risks and ratio of contacting the virus than men.

According to him, hepatitis A, which spreads from contaminated food or water or contact with someone who is infected is preventable by vaccine.

He however, revealed that hepatitis B is an infection of the liver which can cause scarring of the organ, liver failure, and cancer and that it can be fatal if it isn’t treated.

“Its spread when people come in contact with the blood, open sores, or body fluids of someone who has the hepatitis B virus.” Fakayode also disclosed that the prevalence of HIV is reducing in Kwara State while Hepatitis rate is increasing by the day.

This, he says necessitated the state Government efforts and resolve to commence Hepatitis screening for people across the 16 LGAs, so that they can get treatment.

Also addressing the gathering, Kareem Oladapo, technical Officer for Hepatitis in Kwara, explained that Hepatitis B virus (HBV), does not manifest itself immediately but show at later stage.

Oladapo elucidate further that some of the symptoms of the disease includes, yellowness of the eyes, body itching, passage of dark coloured urine, nausea and vomiting among others.

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He says: “Hepatitis A is self limiting while B and C can progress to chronic liver diseases and eventually primary liver cell cancer.”

Oladapo, therefore appealed to the students and staffs to practice safe sex, as the infection can be transmitted through blood, sharing needles and mother to child transmission among others.

The medical practitioner, however, emphasised that there are vaccine readily available and affordable that could protects people against Hepatitis.

Earlier, Olayinka Olowonirerejuaro and provost of college of education Oro, commended the state government for timely health initiative.

Olowonirerejuaro, appreciated the government for strong commitment to the health sector in the state, while pledging that the populace is read to comply with the screening process.

Some of the activities included blood tests, distribution of condoms and fliers on safe sex and health-talk among others.

 

SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin