The Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in Nayarit reports that the agency currently has a state-of-the-art program called “Hepatitis C Early Detection Screening” that is in line with the institutional strategy for micro-elimination of HCV.
Dr. Samira Castillo Aguilar, Head of Institutional Planning and Liaison Coordination, explained that the study is safe, fast and is performed via a small capillary puncture on the finger; “It is like a diagnostic test to determine blood sugar levels; the goal is to identify the disease immediately” .
In this sense, he emphasized that the treatments available at IMSS today are more than 95% effective in eradicating the disease, which is why it seeks to increase diagnostics so that treatment can be provided in a timely manner.
He emphasized that currently, the Institute is running a campaign to micro-eliminate hepatitis C through screening, which is carried out in all PreventIMSS modules located in the Unit of Family Medicine (UMF); this strategy targets patients with chronic diseases who are most at risk .
Castillo Aguilar recalls that it is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus, which causes acute and chronic infections; in addition, it can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer, which is why he insists on prophylaxis the importance of the measures.
The virus is spread through contact with bodily secretions or contaminated blood.Most infections were exposed through unsafe injection practices, including sharing needles or syringes, use of unsterile or improperly sterilized needles, unsafe medical care in unaccredited facilities, history of blood transfusion before 1995 , injecting drugs
Doctors warn that the prevalence of hepatitis C is high; however, there is no need to panic as 80% of cases are asymptomatic disease. However, 70% of patients develop chronic disease, of which up to 30% develop cirrhosis and develop liver cancer.
Symptoms during acute flares of hepatitis C are similar to those of hepatitis A: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), he explained. ).) It can take years from being infected with the hepatitis A virus until symptoms appear.
“It is important to limit the progression of hepatitis C, that is, to prevent it from becoming chronic; by detecting the virus in time without symptoms, we have the opportunity to provide specific treatments to neutralize the activity of the virus and thus prevent its progression ,” reiterated the expert.
Finally, on World Hepatitis Day, the Institute works with five age groups through the PreventIMSS module, thus calling on them to participate in preventive checkups in order to detect any disease in time and thus provide a better quality of life.