Info campaigns fail to curb hepatitis B
Info campaigns fail to curb hepatitis B
JAKARTA (JP): Despite information campaigns against the
hepatitis B virus by various organizations, many people are
unaware about this fatal disease. Uninformed poor people remain
in an unhealthy lifestyle and environment, allowing the virus to
spread.
This was the latest news announced by Dr. Unggul Budihusodo,
an internist with the Omni Medical Center Hospital at a recent
seminar held by British-based pharmaceutical company
GlaxoSmithKline.
The hepatitis B virus is present in body fluids, such as
semen, saliva and blood. Like other fatal diseases, such as
HIV/AIDS, it can spread to other people through shared personal
items like syringes, razor blades and toothbrushes, practicing
unprotected sex or blood transfusions.
"But unlike intensive campaigns against HIV, the information
campaigns against this virus have been a failure," said Unggul,
who also works with Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in
Jakarta.
Data from the World Health Organization shows that there are
350 million people worldwide with hepatitis B. With a prevalence
of 3 percent to 34 percent, Indonesia has currently some 10
million sufferers. In comparison, Indonesia has an estimated one
million cases of HIV/AIDS.
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, which is triggered
by the hepatitis A, B and C viruses. Unlike the other types,
hepatitis B does not show any immediate symptoms. Later, however,
the patient will suffer flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue,
weakness, headaches, jaundice, muscular pain and pain in the
upper right part of the stomach area.
The alarming number of drug abuse cases, Unggul said, had
contributed a significant increase in the number of young
sufferers, due to the practice of sharing needles.
"Our research (at the University of Indonesia/RSCM) shows that
85 percent of these people (drug users) are infected with
hepatitis C, while 15 percent contracted hepatitis B and about 15
percent to 20 percent of them are infected with HIV/AIDS," he
added.
He pointed out that a combination of hepatitis B, C and the
HIV viruses would speed up the formation of cirrhosis, or
hardening of the liver, a condition found only in chronic
hepatitis disease sufferers.
One way of treating the disease is with Interferon injections
or an oral medication called Lamivudin, but Unggul also
underlined the importance of preventive measures.
"Hepatitis B vaccinations at hospitals help develop antibodies
in a person to protect them against the virus," he said.
Another speaker at the seminar, Udin Gunawan, the group
product manager at GlaxoSmithKline, stressed the importance of
having vaccinations since childhood.
"Ninety percent of the children with hepatitis B will enter
adulthood with chronic hepatitis," he said.
Gunawan added that Interferon injections work by stimulating
the body's immune system, while the company's oral drug
Lamivudin, which used to be a part of the treatment for AIDS,
works by hampering the hepatitis B virus from multiplying.
Unggul also said traditional herbal medicine containing
temulawak (wild ginger) may help strengthen the organ but would
not kill the virus.
Temulawak has long been known to have properties that are
capable of soothing liver problems.
He explained that when taken in moderation, the herbal
medicine posed no side effects.
"You can drink a glass of temulawak every day to strengthen
your liver. Some people also say the drink improves their
appetite and makes them feel better," he said.
Temulawak also comes in tablets. (lup)