A total of 2,150 patients were diagnosed and 1,992 patients were allocated for treatment.
mexico city. – The results of the rapid hepatitis C test carried out by the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in 2022 showed that a total of 2,150 patients were positive, of which 1,992 patients received treatment, 95% of whom successfully defeated the disease. .
IMSS Director General Zoé Robledo reported the above, noting that a total of 469,000 tests for hepatitis C were carried out last year, with a total of 581 rapid tests.
The above was carried out within the framework of World Hepatitis Day, which highlights that the condition is the fifth leading cause of primary care at the institute, sometimes diagnosed as a result of complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer in patients.
There are vaccines to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B; as far as hepatitis C is concerned, the social security and health departments provide effective and free treatment, which can achieve fundamental improvement of the disease, and even cure it.
“It is important to understand these testing campaigns, and IMSS experts say multiple measures can be taken to prevent infection: Do not share items for personal use that have come into contact with blood or body secretions, tattoo or piercing where you can be sure the material is sterile” , Robledo said.
He added that risky sex should be avoided and if exposure to any factors is found, go to the Unit of Family Medicine (UMF) PreventIMSS service and request a rapid hepatitis C test.
Dr. Brenda Ríos Castillo, Medical Program Coordinator, Clinical Excellence Division, Health Innovation Coordination, said the IMSS works to facilitate the identification, early diagnosis and timely treatment of risk factors. So as to achieve the purpose of eliminating diseases.
He explained that when a rapid-response hepatitis C test is detected, in addition to assessing liver damage, possible concomitant conditions, and interactions between hepatitis C treatment and some other medications, a test called viral load blood studies to confirm infection. Patients need timely, safe and effective medical care.
IMSS experts said the institute developed an institutional strategy for micro-elimination of hepatitis C that considered elements such as promotion and identification of risk factors. “Having screening testing days, especially for people with risk factors, can enable early identification of disease.”
He added that studies were also conducted to determine if the disease was active, and each individual who tested positive for the disease was assessed individually so that the extent of liver damage could be understood and linked to timely treatment to limit complications, encouraging adherence to treatment Encourage patients to take their medications correctly and make lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of reinfection.
Ríos Castillo emphasized that the main benefit of treating HCV infection is to achieve a cure and thus avoid complications; however, for those who are already infected and have diseases such as cirrhosis, treating the disease can cure and prevent its progress.
The Medical Program Coordinator of the Department of Clinical Excellence highlighted that, since 2020, Mexico has developed a national plan to eliminate hepatitis C, recommending actions to eliminate the infection and the disease by 2030.
“The mandate of the Mexican Institute of Social Security on World Hepatitis Day is to increase the number of cured cases, facilitate the identification of risk factors, thereby strengthening the connection of patients to timely treatment and achieving the elimination of the disease. Hepatitis C Elimination Plan in our Country”, he noted.
He recalls that hepatitis is inflammation of the liver and can be caused by a variety of conditions, non-infectious causes may include excessive alcohol consumption, recreational use of certain psychoactive substances, some autoimmune diseases.
He added that other diseases that cause hepatitis are viral in origin, including the five viruses that cause hepatitis C and are classified according to the letters of the alphabet: A, B, C, D and E.