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Guadalajara (Mexico), EFE

Cases of hepatitis related to injection drug use, tattoos and piercings have increased in recent years in Latin America and particularly in Mexico , said Graciela Castro, president of the Mexican Association of Hepatology

The increasing interest of people of all ages by permanent tattoos without sanitary precautions and increased access to drugs such as heroin, especially in "Yes, there has been an increase of 10 to 15% (in Mexico) of this type of practices, and there has also been an increase number of cases of this disease. "Castro in Guadalaja"

The specialist, participating in the Symposium for World Hepatitis Day, will be held on July 28. , indicated that infections related to these practices are more important than those that occur as a result of blood transfusions, the procedure of which is carefully monitored by health facilities.

He found it necessary to redouble the dissemination campaigns so that the risk factors for contracting hepatitis and increase surveillance to the places where tattoos are made.

"That they choose safe, well-established and regulated places and especially that they also learn that if they are going to do tattooing or piercing") with a needle disposable "and recommended that they carry their own needle and ink to decrease the risk.

Types of viral hepatitis type B, C and D can be transmitted by blood transfusion without medical supervision adequate, injected or intranasal drugs, body piercings, tattoos, accidental punctures with contaminated needles, contact with blood, saliva or badual fluids or during delivery and badfeeding Castro pointed out that hepatitis is a silent disease although the person sometimes shows continuous tiredness.

If detected early, thanks to rapid tests offered by health facilities, it can prevent its progression towards cirrhosis and cancer.

He reported that current direct-acting antiviral treatments are able to cure up to 96% of cases, especially hepatitis C, with "virtually nil" side effects

The World Health Organization Health (WHO) considers hepatitis as a public health problem because each year it causes 1.3 million deaths, a higher number of deaths from HIV and is equal to the victims of tuberculosis. [19659003] In the world there are 270 million people infected with the hepatitis B virus and about 80 million by hepatitis C, although the most well-known of the population Acute hepatitis in which the patient has symptoms of weakness, loss of vigor, fever, and yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes.