AWARENESS IN HEPATITIS B PATIENTS- NEED OF THE HOUR

Introduction:Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has variable manifestations which include both hepatic as well as extrahepatic. It affects significant proportion of population worldwide and can causeacute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis,cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is limited data regarding awareness of HBV in patients who are suffering from it which is very essential for both prevention as well as cure of this deadly disease. Thus, more researches are required in this field, so that well planned steps can be taken to combat hepatitis B.

Aims and objectives:The aim was to study awareness about their disease in confirmed patients of Hepatitis B.

Materials & methods:This study was a prospective study done at PGIMS, Rohtak for eleven years duration i.e. 01.01.2014 to 31.12.2024, for determining awareness about hepatitis B in confirmed patients of hepatitis B. In eleven years, total 10,000 hepatitis B patients were enrolled which included 700 acute hepatitis B and 9300 belonged to chronic hepatitis B. Out of these 9300 patients of chronic hepatitis B, 6510 belonged to inactive carrier stage, 1860 belonged to chronic hepatitis active stage and 930 belonged to cirrhotic stage. Out of these 930 cirrhotic, 28 had developed hepatocellular carcinoma. All of these patients were evaluated on basis of detailed questionnaire regarding awareness about their HBV infection.

Results:Out oftotal pool of 10,000 patients, only 250 patients were having complete awareness about different aspects related to HBV infection. Fourty patients, in addition to these 250 patients had partial knowledge about HBV.

Conclusion: There is huge lack of awareness regarding mode of transmission, spread of disease, precautions including vaccination and available treatment regarding their disease in hepatitis B patients which needs to be improved on urgent and priority basis.