‘You may get hepatitis C sharing nail clippers, towels of infected person’

Doctors point to tattoos and body piercings as also possible causes

LUCKNOW: Sharing razors, scissors, nail clippers, toothbrushes with an infected person have in recent years led to a rise in liver diseases, said doctors. Besides, an unhealthy lifestyle, stress, increased exposure to toxins in food and water are to be blamed too, they said.

Sharing personal items, and possibly even towels, pose infection risks as these may carry traces of blood and may present a risk of acquiring hepatitis C infection. Hepatitis C is more commonly associated with sharing needles or equipment for injecting drugs. It can also be spread by having had a tattoo or body piercing using non-sterile equipment, said Dr Praveen Jha, of Regency Superspeciality Hospital while addressing a press conference on Monday on the eve of World Liver Day.

Doctors said that damage to the liver is being caused with increased use of pesticides in food items. “The liver filters toxins but its function gets compromised with excessive flow of chemicals/pesticides. A study has proved people in Barabanki suffer more from liver ailments due to the excessive use of pesticide as compared to the state capital,” said Dr Samir Misra, senior faculty member, KGMU. Pesticides enter the body with food and cause damage to the liver and the kidney, he said.

Dr Anurag Mishra said, “Hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver over many years, often progressing from inflammation to permanent, irreversible scarring (cirrhosis). With the infection of hepatitis-B virus 10-20% patients show fever, joint pain, skin rashes. These symptoms are followed by the onset of jaundice in about 30% patients. 2/3rd patients remain asymptomatic. 80% patients with hepatitis-B infection recover within 1-3 months”.