Unsterile needles used by drug addicts causing Hepatitis C

Manav Mander

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 26

In addition to unscreened blood during transfusions, unsafe surgical practices and unsafe therapeutic injections (such as those used by diabetics), the primary cause of the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Punjab is the spread of the virus through drug addiction.

According to experts, the infection is spreading by the use of unsterile needles used by drug users.

Secondary causes include sharing personal-care items such as toothbrushes and razors with a person infected with the virus. It also may get transmitted through unprotected sex.

Aggravating the threat is the fact that unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C so far.

A recent Punjab Opioid Dependence Survey (PODS) estimated that there are 2,32,856 opioid drug users in the state of which at least one-third use the injectable method to administer drugs.

“There is a large number of people at risk for various blood-transmitted diseases, including hepatitis C, in the region. However, research reveals that HCV is 10 times more infectious than HIV,” says Dr Ajit Sood, professor and head, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.

In the long term, HCV can lead to liver disease and cirrhosis, which is the reason it is a big concern.

“About 15-20 per cent of HCF-infected patients suffer from advanced liver disease due to the HCV virus, while 3-4 per cent of patients with advanced liver disease develop cancer due to the virus every year,” he said.

“The consumption of alcohol enhances liver disease caused by HCV. Similarly, fatty liver and co-infection with other viruses like HBV and HIV aggravates liver disease,” he said.

The unfortunate part of HCV is that it is highly asymptomatic. “The hepatitis C virus doesn’t cause many symptoms in the initial phase. Symptoms may be non-specific such as fatigue, discomfort in the right side of the abdomen and lethargy. However, once the liver gets damaged (cirrhosis) then patients may have jaundice, ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), GI bleed, and even the development of liver cancer,” Dr Sood said.

As per the World Health Organisation, the disease claims approximately 5 lakh deaths annually worldwide, making it an epidemic. Researchers are drawing parallels between the rising threat of HCV and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) crisis of the 1990s.

“Unfortunately, most patients are incidentally detected to be suffering from hepatitis C,” Dr Sood added.