It is more infectious than HIV. And like HIV, you can carry the Hepatitis virus for ages without knowing that you have it. But Hepatitis B and C are fatal and can lead to liver failure and death. If left untreated, Hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death. 

Knowing your Hepatitis status is as important as knowing your HIV status. You should be tested for Hepatitis before it is too late. All major hospitals in the country can screen Hepatitis. Approximately 500 million people in the world are infected with Hepatitis B and C.

Medical experts explain that Hepatitis B and C are liver diseases caused by the Hepatitis B or C virus. The diseases make the liver swell and stop functioning well.

Hepatitis B virus is spread by coming into contact with blood, semen, and vaginal secretions of an infected person. It can spread from the mother to her child during birth. Other common causes of transmission include: unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles among injection drug users, re-use of contaminated needles and syringes, sharing of razor blades or toothbrushes can also transmit hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is not spread through water, food, and hugging, kissing, and casual contact such as in schools or the workplace

Many Rwandans are ignorant about Hepatitis, yet several studies estimate that globally over 1.5 million people die of hepatitis related diseases every year.

Hepatitis C

Like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C is also common in Rwanda.

Hepatitis C is also usually spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus through sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Hepatitis C is also spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

People can become infected with the Hepatitis C virus during such activities as sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs, needlestick injuries in health care settings and being born to a mother who has Hepatitis C.

Less commonly, a person can also get Hepatitis C virus infection through sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes or having sexual contact with a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus

Although Hepatitis B and C are the most common in Rwanda, there are other hepatitis types like A, D and E. Just like HIV, Hepatitis has no cure but it can be prevented.

One way of doing it is only by reducing exposure to the virus in healthcare settings or high risk populations.

These include people who work in hospitals and more especially those who operate blood transfusion equipment.

There are also efforts aimed at protecting new born infants, HIV patients and health workers from getting Hepatitis B through vaccination since they are vulnerable. Health officials have also been more vocal about the need to avoid unprotected sex, not only to keep HIV at bay, but also Hepatitis.

"Hepatitis can also spread through fluids or blood from an infected people,” Dr Manzi Olivier Umulisa, an infectionologist and lecturer at the University Teaching Hospital CHUK, in Kigali, explains.

According to Marceline Musomandera, a nurse at Centre de Sante in Kabusunzu, Hepatitis is a deadly disease and anyone who lives with it is likely to spread it unknowingly.

The medical worker encourages testing and early vaccination to prevent the spread.

The Centre for Disease Control globally estimates that 240 million people are living with chronic Hepatitis B and points out vaccination as the best way to prevent Hepatitis B infections.

Health workers, readers speak out about Hepatitis

Josepher Bamusabire

I have seen several people with Hepatitis B. Once one receives treatment on time and regularly, their life is saved from fatal consequences. I encourage everyone to always test for it.

Eric Ndayishimiye

I came to know about Hepatitis B recently. I have also come to believe that many people have it but do not know. The government should intensify its awareness campaigns about Hepatitis B to avoid new cases.

Musomandera Marceline, Nurse

Hepatitis B, if not detected early can be dangerous. The virus also has the potential to spread from an infected person to family members and sexual partners. Early vaccination is key.

Jean Bosco Nshimiyimana

I have been hearing of Hepatitis B of late but I don’t know how it is spread, its symptoms or its cure. The Ministry of Health needs to do more in terms of educating the public about this disease like they do for HIV.

Beyata Uwamariya

People need to be cautious about this disease. They should go for testing, vaccination and treatment as early as possible. It’s not good to wait too long.

Ejeni Tuyisenge, Nurse

Hepatitis is on the rise yet people are still unaware of it. The best way to deal with this challenge is to carry out a mass sensitization programme.

Compiled by Dennis Agaba

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SYMPTOMS OF HEPATITIS

Most people who have an acute Hepatitis B infection don’t have symptoms. But if you do have symptoms, they may include:

l Extreme tiredness (fatigue).l Mild fever.l Headache.l Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.l Constant discomfort on the right side of the belly under the rib cage. (That’s where the liver is located.)l Diarrhoea or constipation.l Muscle aches or joint pain.l Skin rash.l Jaundice. This means that the skin and whites of the eyes look yellow. Jaundice is a major sign of liver damage. It usually appears after other symptoms have started to go away.Most people who have chronic infection have no symptoms.

You may get infected without knowing it. You may not find out that you have an infection until you have a routine blood test or donate blood. Finding out that a family member or someone you live with is infected also may cause you to be tested. Some people never know they have hepatitis B until a doctor finds that they have cirrhosis or liver cancer.

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Treatment of hepatitis

Treatment considerations for Hepatitis B vary depending on whether the infection is acute or chronic. Always consult your healthcare provider for specific recommendations and treatment options.

Acute (newly acquired)

l No specific treatment is available for acute HBV infection.l Most patients with acute viral hepatitis experience a self-limited illness (one that runs a limited course), and go on to recover completely.l There is no accepted treatment and no restrictions on diet or activity.l In most cases, hospitalization should be avoided, to prevent spread of the virus to other patients. It should, however, be considered for patients who are severely ill.Your healthcare provider can recommend the best options based on your individual needs for care.

Chronic (persistent)

l Interferon is used to help stop the replication of HBV. It is called an antiviral agent. Interferon has been 40 percent effective in eliminating chronic HBV infection. Persons who became infected during adulthood were most likely to respond to this treatment. Long-term follow up of treated patients suggests that remission of chronic HBV from treatments with interferon is of long duration. Talk to your health care provider about the use of Interferon.

l Lamivudine (Epivir) is now available to treat chronic HBV. It is the first medication specifically formulated to do so. Talk to your health care provider for more information about lamivudine and to learn if it is right for you.

l Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera), is the first nucleotide analog approved to treat chronic HBV. Adefovir dipivoxil slows the progression of chronic HBV by interfering with the virus’ replication process within the body. Results show that adefovir dipivoxil can significantly reduce liver inflammation and scarring. It has been shown to work in people who have resistance to the drug lamivudine. Consult your health care provider for more information about adefovir dipivoxil and to learn it is right for you.

l Entecavir (Baraclude) slows the progression of chronic hepatitis B by interfering with viral reproduction. In clinical studies, patients treated with entecavir showed significant improvement in the liver inflammation caused by HBV and an improvement in the degree of liver fibrosis (scarring). It is important to stay under your doctor’s care while taking entecavir. Baraclude™ was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2005. Talk to your doctor to learn more about this treatment.