Raising awareness in fight against jaundice
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Sirajul Islam, a Master's degree student of Dhaka University's Information and Library Science, lives at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall. On one recent morning, he started vomiting blood, causing concern among his hall mates who rushed him to BIRDEM Hospital. Later, blood tests showed that he was seriously afflicted with Hepatitis-B.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Siraj said that he first suffered jaundice in 1997-98. A blood test two years ago found that he was attacked with Hepatitis-B virus, a finding the 24-year-old man did not take seriously. ``That time I did not have much problem, except occasional loss of appetite," says Siraj who appeared terminally ill.
In Bangladesh, many people carry the dangerous Hepatitis-B virus without knowing about it. If not treated early this can turn deadly. Statistics show that 7 to 10 per cent of the country's population carry the virus. Still worse is that 3.5 per cent of expectant mothers suffer from the virus.
Hepatitis-B claims up to 30,000 lives in Bangladesh a year, experts say.
The virus attacks the liver and causes jaundice. It makes the liver weak and hampers its functioning that leads to a rise in the level of bilirubin in blood.
Newborns are more vulnerable to the virus as their livers cannot always clean the bilirubin in the blood. Experts say water is a key source of jaundice. So, attention should be paid to drinking water and the food that is eaten. It is important to take clean and healthy water and food in order to remain safe from jaundice.
Drinking too much of water does not always help cure jaundice. Taking a complete rest is important for a jaundice patient. Says Dr. Mohammad Mohsin Kabir, a hepatologist at the BIRDEM Hospital: "A jaundice patient does not need glucose, sugarcane juice or extra water. Taking extra amount of water may reduce the yellowness in the eyes or body of the patient, but that does not mean a full cure."
Dr. Kabir warns against going to kabiraj for treatment. The drugs the kabiraj usually prescribes can be harmful to a jaundice patient. He suggests taking vaccines against Hepatitis virus. Children should be given the vaccines so they remain protected from the virus. It must be ensured that children do not take polluted water or contaminated food. One way of protecting babies from jaundice is to vaccinate the expectant mothers.
According to doctors, jaundice does not always mean a dysfunctional liver. Jaundice can cause liver cirrosis and acute B Virus can be dangerous.
When liver does not function properly fatigue takes over. There is also the possibility of liver cancer even though it is rare. However, giving the liver a complete rest is the key for cure and drugs are not always needed. Some drugs are available for Hepatitis-B and C.
It is not known to many that this virus can remain dormant in human body for long. When Hepatitis-B remains in the body for more than six months then the person can be described as the carrier of the virus. Doctors say it is important to conduct regular blood tests to know whether someone is carrier of the virus. The virus can infect people through body fluid and sexual contact.
Lack of awareness about jaundice can be fatal. No one knows it better than the family of Hazrat Ali, who died of jaundice in his village in Narsingdi. ``He died because of our ignorance about the disease," says his wife. — NewsNetwork
Speaking from his hospital bed, Siraj said that he first suffered jaundice in 1997-98. A blood test two years ago found that he was attacked with Hepatitis-B virus, a finding the 24-year-old man did not take seriously. ``That time I did not have much problem, except occasional loss of appetite," says Siraj who appeared terminally ill.
In Bangladesh, many people carry the dangerous Hepatitis-B virus without knowing about it. If not treated early this can turn deadly. Statistics show that 7 to 10 per cent of the country's population carry the virus. Still worse is that 3.5 per cent of expectant mothers suffer from the virus.
Hepatitis-B claims up to 30,000 lives in Bangladesh a year, experts say.
The virus attacks the liver and causes jaundice. It makes the liver weak and hampers its functioning that leads to a rise in the level of bilirubin in blood.
Newborns are more vulnerable to the virus as their livers cannot always clean the bilirubin in the blood. Experts say water is a key source of jaundice. So, attention should be paid to drinking water and the food that is eaten. It is important to take clean and healthy water and food in order to remain safe from jaundice.
Drinking too much of water does not always help cure jaundice. Taking a complete rest is important for a jaundice patient. Says Dr. Mohammad Mohsin Kabir, a hepatologist at the BIRDEM Hospital: "A jaundice patient does not need glucose, sugarcane juice or extra water. Taking extra amount of water may reduce the yellowness in the eyes or body of the patient, but that does not mean a full cure."
Dr. Kabir warns against going to kabiraj for treatment. The drugs the kabiraj usually prescribes can be harmful to a jaundice patient. He suggests taking vaccines against Hepatitis virus. Children should be given the vaccines so they remain protected from the virus. It must be ensured that children do not take polluted water or contaminated food. One way of protecting babies from jaundice is to vaccinate the expectant mothers.
According to doctors, jaundice does not always mean a dysfunctional liver. Jaundice can cause liver cirrosis and acute B Virus can be dangerous.
When liver does not function properly fatigue takes over. There is also the possibility of liver cancer even though it is rare. However, giving the liver a complete rest is the key for cure and drugs are not always needed. Some drugs are available for Hepatitis-B and C.
It is not known to many that this virus can remain dormant in human body for long. When Hepatitis-B remains in the body for more than six months then the person can be described as the carrier of the virus. Doctors say it is important to conduct regular blood tests to know whether someone is carrier of the virus. The virus can infect people through body fluid and sexual contact.
Lack of awareness about jaundice can be fatal. No one knows it better than the family of Hazrat Ali, who died of jaundice in his village in Narsingdi. ``He died because of our ignorance about the disease," says his wife. — NewsNetwork