YOGYAKARTA – Indonesia is still declared as endemic area of hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver caused by viruses. Especially hepatitis B can become chronic and develop to be highly lethal liver cancer. Although it is not too exposed, the number of hepatitis patients is ten times more than HIV/AIDS patients. The World Health Organization (WHO) even mentioned that one of 12 people in the world is infected by hepatitis viruses.
According to the teaching staff of the Faculty of Medicine in Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, Dr. dr. Putut Bayu Purnama, Sp.PD-KGEH, hepatitis often has no symptoms at all before it becomes chronic.
"It can emerge in the long term, becoming inflamed liver, hardening of the heart, ending in liver cancer and death,” Putut said on Wednesday (28/7).
Putut said that the prevalence of hepatitis in Indonesia is still high around 20%. On the other hand, the treatment of hepatitis is relatively expensive. He gave an example of hepatitis B tablets which cost around nine hundred thousands rupiahs per month that need to be taken within 1-3 years. Meanwhile, the injection (interferon) will be more expensive, reaching 2.5 million rupiahs per week in 48 weeks’ treatment.
"So, it is better to prevent than to cure the disease, remembering the expensive treatment,” he said.
Therefore, Putut suggested that socialization about the hepatitis vaccine should continue, especially for newborns. Besides, people can also have blood tests as soon as possible to determine whether they are suffering from hepatitis or not.
"If there is strong indication of chronic hepatitis, the next important step to do is laboratory check up (Liver Function Inspection Panel). We can conduct anti-HCV or HBsAg check up to determine the liver function," Putut who is also chairman of the Association of Indonesian Heart Research of Yogyakarta explained.
In Indonesia, the celebration of World Hepatitis Day on July 28 was centered in Yogyakarta, the region with high number of patients. The event was opened by Minister of Health, Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih. Previously, Hepatitis Day was commemorated on May 19. However, due to the suggestion of Indonesia’s delegation in the 126th WHO Executive Board meeting, it was agreed that the Hepatitis Day would be celebrated on July 28 that is also the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg, the man who found hepatitis B in 1965.