{"id":972,"date":"2023-07-28T10:46:59","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T10:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theasiaspeaks.com\/?p=972"},"modified":"2023-07-28T10:47:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T10:47:00","slug":"drug-abuse-unhygienic-dental-practices-responsible-for-hepatitis-epidemic-in-kashmir-dak-on-world-hepatitis-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theasiaspeaks.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/28\/drug-abuse-unhygienic-dental-practices-responsible-for-hepatitis-epidemic-in-kashmir-dak-on-world-hepatitis-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Drug abuse, unhygienic dental practices responsible for hepatitis epidemic in Kashmir: DAK on world hepatitis day"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>1 Minute, 55 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

ASIA SPEAKS NEWS NETWORK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srinagar, July 28:\u00a0<\/strong>On world hepatitis day, Doctors\u00a0Association Kashmir (DAK) on Friday expressed pressing concern over surge in hepatitis cases which has reached to epidemic proportions in Kashmir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDrug abuse and unhygienic dental practices are responsible for hepatitis epidemic in the valley,\u201d said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Hassan said Kashmir is witnessing an alarming rise in drug abuse cases over the past few decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDrug addicts are at a higher risk of contracting hepatitis and have the potential to spread this deadly infection to others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a recent study conducted at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Kashmir, 72% drug addicts were found to have Hepatitis C infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cResearch has found that each drug addict infected with hepatitis virus is likely to infect 20 others and this rapid transmission of the disease occurs within the first 3 years of initial infection,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DAK President said another reason for high rates of Hepatitis infection is unhygienic dental practices in Kashmir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cMost of the dental clinics use unsterilized or improperly sterilized instruments. The tools are not cleaned in between patients. The disposable items which are for single-use are reused on patients. Unsterile needles are used in multiple dose medication vials,\u201d he said<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDentists do not change gloves in between patients and use same gloves for every patient that leads to cross-infection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPatients are not screened for hepatitis prior to intervention resulting in transfer of these viruses from one patient to another,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Nisar said Hepatitis B and C infections are serious medical conditions and infected patients may not have outward symptoms of the disease for many years. That delayed onset makes screening important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hepatitis B and C are common causes of Cirrhosis or scarring of liver which can cause liver failure and even cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile Hepatitis B vaccine was included into the routine\/universal immunization programme after 2006, many people above 17 years are unvaccinated. People should get vaccinated against hepatitis B as soon as possible to protect themselves from getting the virus,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHepatitis C has no vaccine, but there are ways to prevent the disease. And, if detected early this is one of the few viral infectious diseases with great cure rates,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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