World Hepatitis Day: Gujarat ranks second in hepatitis-related deaths in India

In an alarming trend in Gujarat, for the past few years, the state has witnessed a five to seven times increase in liver failure cases linked to Hepatitis B, particularly among individuals aged 10 to 25 years. 

In just the last six years, 474 people in Gujarat have died from Hepatitis B, highlighting a persistent and dangerous health crisis.

Gujarat’s seroprevalence rate for Hepatitis B is higher than the national average, standing at 1.2%, compared to India’s average of 0.95%. While the overall seroprevalence rate for all hepatitis types in Gujarat is 0.19%, the national average is 0.32%. Gujarat currently ranks sixth in the country for Hepatitis B cases, following Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. And stands at second in deaths related to the Hepatatis.

Dr Pathik Parikh, a liver transplant physician, emphasised that Hepatitis B, once considered a mild virus, has become more aggressive post-covid, leading to serious complications and an increased number of liver transplant cases. In some instances, patients have suffered multi-organ failure and death.

States with the highest Hepatitis B Deaths 

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis  B is a type of liver inflammation typically caused by contaminated food, water, or close contact with an infected person. Common symptoms include:

Extreme fatigue and weakness

Sudden nausea and vomiting

Diarrhoea

Abdominal pain or discomfort (especially in the upper right side below the ribs)

Loss of appetite

Low-grade fever

Dark-coloured urine

Joint pain

Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)