JAKARTA, iNews.id – Currently people are focusing on Covid-19, but hepatitis is no less dangerous. Of the four types of viral hepatitis, hepatitis B and C is considered the most dangerous because it can end up chronically causing liver cirrhosis and hepatoma.
From data compiled by the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), in Indonesia, as many as 2.5 million people are infected hepatitis C. The 18 million people are infected with hepatitis B, and 50% are at risk of becoming chronic. As many as 900 thousand hepatitis patients end up with cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The Director of Prevention and Control of Directly Infectious Diseases (P2ML) of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that the hepatitis virus has different modes of transmission. Hepatitis A and E are transmitted faecally and orally. While hepatitis B, C, and D are transmitted parenterally (touch, fluids, or from needles).
“Transmission of hepatitis B from mother to child by 90-95%. So it is necessary to prevent the transmission of hepatitis B from mother to child from an early age. One of them is the priority for early detection of hepatitis B in pregnant women,” said dr. Siti, in a media meeting ‘World Hepatitis Day Commemoration 2021’, Wednesday (28/07/2021).
As is known, currently no effective drug has been found to cure hepatitis B. However, hepatitis B can be prevented by administering a vaccine. There are several ways to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, including:
1. Hepatitis B Imunoglobulin
Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (HBIg) is given to newborns from HBsAg reactive mothers.
2. Administration of Tenofovir to pregnant women with high viral load. HBsAg reactive pregnant women are referred for further treatment.
Editor: Dyah Ayu Pamela
