In the period between 2001 and 2020, the North and Northeast regions had an increase of 6% and 5%, respectively, in mortality from chronic viral hepatitis.
This is what a study carried out by the Tiradentes University, in Aracaju, points out, which made use of public data from the last 20 years on the disease.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be acute or chronic; beyond curable or fulminant.
The research was published on Monday (3), in the “Revista Brasileira de Epidemiology”.
In Brazil, in the last 20 years, 49,831 deaths from hepatitis were recorded.
A CNN Radio the digestive system surgeon Sonia Oliveira Lima, who guided the research, said that there are some causes for the increase in deaths in the North and Northeast.
“One of the explanations is that notification has improved, which has become mandatory,” he said.
In addition, transmission is another important issue.
“Hepatitis A, for example, has fecal-oral transmission, and depends on basic sanitation, personal hygiene, the use of disposables.”
In the case of hepatitis B, C and D, transmission is by blood or sperm.
“Vaccination coverage in these regions is insufficient, and the diagnosis is simple, but the exam must be requested”, he added.
Only the Southeast region had a tendency to reduce deaths from hepatitis in the period surveyed.
“The remainder had a stationary number, without an increase or decrease, which is very serious,” said the doctor.
She argues that better communication is needed so that information about the disease reaches people, as well as encouraging vaccination.
*Produced by Isabel Campos
Source: CNN Brasil
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