UAE: 40-50 per cent of hepatitis cases remain undiagnosed, says doctors

UAE: 40-50 per cent of hepatitis cases remain undiagnosed, says doctors

Annual tests can help in early diagnosis and cure, say medics, as the country marks World Hepatitis Day

Published: Thu 28 Jul 2022, 4:44 PM

While the prevalence of hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV) in the UAE is low, doctors underline that nearly 40-50 per cent of patients may remain undiagnosed.

As the UAE marks World Hepatitis Day on July 28, healthcare professionals aver citizens and residents should do annual blood checkups to know if there are any alterations in liver function tests and consequently check for the hepatitis virus.

Dr Srinivas Patnaikuni Specialist Gastroenterology Prime Medical Center Burjuman Branch said, “A good number of patients remain undiagnosed because of various reasons like low viral load, low immunity among others. The numbers may range somewhere between 40 to 50 per cent. There are two types are hepatitis – B and C. These two strains cause both short-term acute hepatitis as well as long-term illness like cirrhosis and liver cancer. When a patient is diagnosed with any of these two, one should be under constant monitoring and treatment by a gastroenterologist. “

He adds, “Most patients are asymptomatic especially when infected by hepatitis B and C. But acute hepatitis presents itself with fever, fatigability,