BHOPAL : “Beware; getting a tattoo made on your arm to flaunt your fashion style can make you vulnerable to Viral Hepatitis disease. Viral hepatitis can spread through infected tattoo needle, piercing needles, razors, toothbrush or any surgical tool if used without properly sanitising – even by pedicure”, this information was shared by Dr Sanjay Kumar, senior gastroenterologist at Gastrocare Liver and Digestive Disease Centre Bhopal on the eve of World Hepatitis Day on Monday.
Dr Kumar said, “Today there is a lot of awareness in the people regarding heart related diseases, neurological disorders, blood sugar problems for which people undergo investigations from time to time to rule out the possibility of any such disease. But there is still very less awareness for liver related diseases.”
“Viral Hepatitis can be called a silent killer. Its symptoms do not appear for decades in a patient. Hepatitis that is inflammation of liver or fatty liver is very much attributed to people consuming alcohol but people who suffer from diabetes, obesity and inactive people who do not exercise can develop liver disorders”, he added.
“Most common symptoms of hepatitis are loss of appetite, fatigue, mild fever, muscle or joint aches, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. People suffering from Hepatitis C do not show any symptoms even for decades. Hepatitis C spreads through infection in blood and can be transmitted sexually also”, he further added.
Dr Kumar said that Hepatitis can also be caused by some medications including anti-TB drugs. He said that one should get oneself tested once every year to rule out the possibility of hepatitis. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B but not for C. Once hepatitis is detected it can be treated with medicines.
