He referred to data from the World Health Organization, which states that as of 2022, there are approximately 254 million people worldwide living with chronic hepatitis B. Each year, 1.2 million new cases are recorded, and the annual number of deaths exceeds one million.
Sarymsakov noted that in regions with high hepatitis B prevalence, the virus is typically transmitted from mother to child. However, due to the vaccination of newborns, such cases have significantly decreased in Kyrgyzstan. The main routes of transmission include parenteral and sexual. Adults usually experience the disease in an acute form, with subsequent spontaneous recovery in 95% of cases; however, 5% of patients may develop a chronic form. There is a high risk of hepatitis D infection through contact with the blood or other biological fluids of infected individuals.
The specialist also emphasized that more than half of patients with hepatitis B do not experience any symptoms. A small group may exhibit jaundice and dark urine. With timely diagnosis and treatment, the disease can be effectively managed.
According to him, superinfection with hepatitis D in patients with hepatitis B accelerates the development of liver cirrhosis compared to those who suffer only from hepatitis B.
In Kyrgyzstan, medications such as tenofovir, tenofovir alafenamide, and entecavir are used to treat chronic hepatitis B. Typically, the course of therapy should last a lifetime, and more than 50% of patients with chronic hepatitis B require treatment.
As for hepatitis D, until recently, the only treatment option was interferon, which has many contraindications and side effects. "Recently, the European Medicines Agency approved bulevirtide, which prevents the virus from entering liver cells and is used in combination with other medications," Sarymsakov added. However, new drugs for the treatment of viral hepatitis D are currently unavailable in Kyrgyzstan.
