Hepatitis A raises its head in Tricity

CHANDIGARH: Contaminated water and unchecked sale of cut fruits has brought in a sudden spurt of Hepatitis A viral infection in the city. City-based hospitals are reporting 50 cases of the virus daily. The virus causes inflammation of liver, though it does not turn chronic if treated on time.
''We are seeing one case of the virus each in both adults and children daily.This is a monsoon-related virus, which spreads mostly due to faults in sewerage system,'' said city-based paediatrician Dr R S Bedi.
''Many people with this infection have no symptoms at all. In children there is no yellowing of skin or eyes and as a result, parents tend to miss the condition. However, there are abdominal pains followed by nausea and vomiting in children particularly,'' said Dr Baldev Singh a private physician in Mohali.
''At this time of the year, the virus proliferates and results in inflammation of the liver. Sometimes symptoms are so mild that they go unnoticed. Older people are more likely to have symptoms
than children. People who do not have symptoms can still spread the virus,'' said Dr Bedi.
''Food and water get more easily contaminated as substances from leaking sewage pipes often mix with overflowing rainwater. We see five or patients in the OPD with Hepatitis A. The main source is unhygienic food and water,'' said Dr B R Thapa from department of paediatrics, PGI.
''There is a vaccine available for the virus. It can be administered when the child is one year old,'' said Dr Kamal Mehta, a Panchkula-based medical specialist.