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No special diet for hepatitis patients, says medical expert

A medical expert with the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr Godwin Osaigbovo, says patients of Hepatitis, a viral disease, do not require any special diet.

Osaigbovo, a neurologist, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos, expressed worry that patients of of the disease were being misinformed to only consume carbohydrates.

“In this part of the world where we do not take much protein and you ask patients not to take it at all, then malnutrition sets in and can be a compounding factor in the progression of the disease,” he said.

He explained that hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver where the patient experienced pain, penetrating heat and swelling in the liver which over the time can lead to cancer.

“Hepatitis A and E can be contacted through faecal oral transmission which is what we eat or drink. It does not cause chronic infection of the liver because it is short lived.

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“Hepatitis A and E are acute, the patients either survive or succumb to the viral infection through death but if they survive, the liver once becomes healthy again, ” he said.

The neurologist said that Hepatitis B, C and D are long term infection which can develop to cancer.

He said the ailment is caused by using contaminated sharp objects such as razor blade and piercing instruments such as dental objects.

“Using unsterilized sharp objects such as in dental clinics, sharing clippers for barbing and piercing objects in tattoo centres can lead to hepatitis B and C.

“The best preventive measure is to have your personal gadgets for that purpose. Hepatitis B can be transmitted sexually but rarely in C,” he explained.

The neurologist cautioned patients patronising herbal treatment of the disease, saying they do not have the requisite skills, so they compounded the treatment and killing the patient.

He said hepatitis could be prevented through early detection through screening and taking the vaccine if certified free of the disease.

He said hepatitis could be prevented through drinking potable water and boiling it where necessary, washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly and using protection when having sexual relations with a partner you are not sure of their status. (NAN)

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