Ghaziabad: Western UP, which includes 18 districts and makes up 23% of the state’s total population, accounted for almost 40% of hepatitis B and C cases between April 2023 and Feb this year, data shows.
The state reported a total of 17,140 hepatitis B cases during this period. Of these, the western UP districts recorded 6,702 cases — 39% of the total.
Ghaziabad was among the top districts of western UP, with 737 Hepatitis B cases. While Bijnor (1,104) reported the most cases, Amroha was second with 841 patients. Noida added 301 cases through this period.
Hepatitis C numbers have also been a cause for concern in Ghaziabad. Since March 2021, the district has reported 2,316 cases.
Officials said that in the NCR city, Muradnagar, Dasna, and Dhaulana in Ghaziabad had reported the most number of cases.
Hepatitis B and C are viral infections that primarily affect the liver, leading to potentially severe and chronic conditions. The two conditions have been significant global health concerns because of their modes of transmission and the serious health issues they can cause, such as liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Officials said that a survey had found that areas with a significant migratory population, prisons, deaddiction centres, blood banks and the prevalence of quacks had reported the highest cases of hepatitis B and C.
“In most cases, the virus is spread through multiple use of injection syringes at quack clinics. It is suggested that patients should reach out to hospitals at the earliest for testing. Early detection can be helpful for medical procedures,” said RK Gupta, the Ghaziabad ACMO.
Dr Sushrut Singh, additional director of gastroenterology and hepatology at Fortis Hospital in Noida, said, “On an average, we see 50-60 patients of hepatitis B a month and 12-15 cases of hepatitis C. Both these diseases are blood-borne pathogens, which is spread by the exchange of fluids, reuse of infected needles — as is common in among drug addicts —unprotected sex, transfusion of infected blood and dialysis.”
Although early detection is key to treating such cases, symptoms may be negligible in the initial stages. “As the diseases progress, the infected persons may show excessive lethargy, fatigue, decreased appetite, pain or discomfort in the right upper abdomen, and itching. Some patients may also develop jaundice, swelling in the ankles and ascites — a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. There could be disturbance in the working of the brain too, leading to even coma,” he added.
Hepatitis B and C are all the more a cause for concern among pregnant women.
“Hepatitis B can be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth, a process known as vertical transmission. Exposure to contaminated blood through medical procedures, unscreened blood transfusions, or organ transplants, as well as sharing personal items like razors or toothbrushes with an infected individual, can also result in infection. In hepatitis C, vertical transmission from mother to child is less common, but not impossible,” said Dr Saibal Chakravorty, senior consultant of internal medicine at Metro Hospital, Noida.
Dr Chakravorty advised regular screening and testing for high-risk groups, such as healthcare workers or those with a history of drug use.
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