Hepatitis in Chile: Great advantage of vaccination for high-risk groups

In the framework of the commemoration of World Hepatitis Day on 29 July, Dr. Cristóbal Ossa, Pediatric Specialist at Puerto Montt Hospital, highlighted one of the great advantages that Chile has had over the past 30 years in the fight against the disease, such as sewage treatment, and the The most popular Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines on the web.

Since the 1980s, researchers have been able to distinguish five viruses that cause hepatitis: from type A to type E, which is the most common virus worldwide. Both types A and E are faecal-oral, that is, they are transmitted by feces contaminating the food we eat, followed by hepatitis C, B and D, which are transmitted through the input of contaminated blood and asexual intercourse. Use condoms.

What does hepatitis mean?

“Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, manifested by various diseases: viral, toxin, vascular and metabolic diseases. Speaking of the classic concept of hepatitis, we understand that patients present with jaundice, which is manifested by yellow skin and white parts of the eyes, and urine color Darker, known as “color urine,” and “biliary blockage,” that is, white stools due to liver inflammation,” explains Dr. Osa.

The prevalence of the disease is declining in Chile compared to other Latin American countries, mainly due to the strength of the sewerage system within the country, hepatitis, at least A and B, due to immunization in the country Levels under control All newborns in the country are vaccinated during the first year of life. For hepatitis C, GES guarantees treatment.

Experts recommend vaccination

“The most important thing is to get the vaccine, go to the clinic with all our kids for the first year and the 18th month vaccine so that Hepatitis A and B are covered. For the rest of the Hepatitis and Hepatitis caused by other viruses , there’s not much we can do: if you get an adenovirus infection and it turns into hepatitis, maybe the flu shot will help us, but that’s general winter care,” said Dr Osa.

On the issue of hepatitis A and B vaccination of children born abroad, Dr. Ossa emphasized that due to the inclusion of this pathology in the GES, “they guaranteed vaccination by entering the public health system.” I am glad that one of our HPM A patient was born with hepatitis C in another country, he was treated for the disease through GES and is now completely cured”.

The treatment of this pathology

Chile’s public health network has supportive care for all types of hepatitis, and according to Dr. Osa’s detailed account, “For immunocompromised patients who do not have hepatitis A, treatment is supportive, that is, hydration, to ensure that the disease does not occur.” Monitor with liver tests for further evaluation for further damage to the liver. The vast majority of hepatitis A is self-limited, and patients are diagnosed and sent home for treatment and subsequent control.

However, professionals called for “not to relax” and strengthen preventive measures to avoid the most common transmission of hepatitis. “We have to keep up with the sewage, always recommend eating in certified places with loved ones, be careful with food served in summer or on the street as they are accompanied by other food-transmissible diseases … in poor condition or poorly prepared”, he concluded.

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