Basic details about Hepatitis C & Hepatitis E diseases and prevention methods
Hepatitis C
- Transmission method:Mainly transmitted through blood & blood products.
- Incubation period 6-7 weeks.
- Clinical illness is mild, usually asymatomatic (50%) with a high rate of (more than 50%) chronic hepatitis, which may lead to cirrhosis of liver or liver cancer.
- Diagnosis: Clinical diagnosis established in person with signs & symptoms of acute hepatitis by ruling out acute HAV and HBV infection. Anti-HAV blood test available but are costly.
- Homoeopathy prevention: Health education to inform general public about risk of transmitting infection with the use of unsterile equipment.
Hepatitis E
- Formerly known as Hepatitis non A non B.
- It is self-limiting disease transmitted by water or food contamination by faeces of patients.
- Incubation period: 2-9 weeks
- Agent: hepatitis E virus is the causative agent.
- Host: Mainly young adults, 15-40 years
- Infection during pregnancy is responsible for abortions, intrauterine death & high perinatal morbidity & mortality.
- Environmental factors: Open air defecation, unsafe drinking water & poor personal hygiene are responsible factors.
Homeopathy prevention.
- Identification of epidemic, identification of source of infection, notification of disease.
- Ensuring safe water supply, assistance in chlorination of well in a village.
- Ensure proper sewage disposal.
- Education of people about food & personal Hygiene.
- Promote vaccination against Hepatitis B in high risk population groups.