Hepatitis patients are at higher risk to get COVID-19: Dr Nida

KARACHI: Pro-Chancellor Ziauddin University and Consultant Physician (Internal Medicine), at Ziauddin Hospital, Dr Nida Hussain has said hepatitis patients are at high risk of catching COVID-19 as they having baseline liver damage.

She was addressing the audience in an informative virtual seminar themed “Find the Missing Millions” to mark World Hepatitis Day through a webinar organized by Ziauddin University in collaboration with Dr Ziauddin Hospital.

The Purpose of the seminar was to provide awareness to our health professionals and the community to fight against hepatitis.

Dr Nida further said, “Hepatitis B can transmit from a pregnant mother to her baby and Hepatitis C can also be transmitted to a newborn but chances are low, if you are suffering from hepatitis along with HIV then the chances are higher”.

She said vaccination of hepatitis B within 12 hours of birth can reduce the chances of children getting the COVID-19.

On this occasion, Gastroenterologist, Dr Ziauddin Hospital and President, Pakistan Society for the Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD), Dr Zaigham Abbas said “We have five major hepatitis, include A, B C, D and E, and unfortunately all of these are very common in Pakistan. These causes may be viral, toxins, alcohol, drugs, maybe some metabolic effects”, he added.

He said, “Patients of these viruses present to us with clinical symptoms like jaundice, nausea, vomiting and these are the self-limiting viruses. Hepatitis B and C can affect the body and may cause chronic inflammation. Not having proper cleanliness and sterilization are the main causes of spreading this virus”, Dr Abbas further added.

While stressing the need for preventive measures to control the epidemic in Pakistan, health experts stated that there is a need for case finding & proper management of patients. The majority of people endure this infection in health care settings without being aware of it, the experts added.