About three million Thais are infected
By Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
Lack of awareness of early screening is putting Thais at greater risk of infection from the hepatitis B virus which could lead to liver cancer, say medical experts. An estimated three million Thais are thought to be carrying the virus today. However only 15% are undergoing proper treatment, Teerha Piratvisuth, deputy director of the Prince of Songkla Hospital's Gastrointestinal and Liver Institute, said.
''Hepatitis B is a major health threat for the country as millions of people have the disease. But most of the patients only learn about it when it's already too late,'' he said during the Hong Kong-Shanghai International Liver Congress 2008 held in Hong Kong recently. Studies have shown that liver cancer cases in Thailand had evidence of previous chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
Cancer is the major cause of death among the Thai population with 62,000 deaths reported in 2006 alone. Most of its victims in Thailand are males, according to the Public Health Ministry.
Chronic hepatitis B is mostly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region where 75% of the world's 350 million carriers reside. The virus can cause chronic infection in the liver. It generally shows only mild or non-specific symptoms during the early stages, but ultimately leads to serious liver diseases and early death in up to 25% of the individuals.
Dr Teerha said chronically infected persons are at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. Treatment costs are also quite high, about half a million baht per year per person.
There is no cure for the disease. So the primary goal is to suppress and keep the virus load at a low level.
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