Hepatitis: the silent disease that can advance for years without symptoms

• Gastroenterologist Rosa Uribe, of Médico Express, warns that hepatitis B and C can advance for years without symptoms and recommends getting tested at least once in a lifetime.

Santo Domingo. Viral hepatitis remains one of the main challenges to liver health because, in many cases, it can develop for years without showing symptoms. That makes timely diagnosis harder and raises the risk of complications such as cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer.

Gastroenterologist Rosa Uribe, of Médico Express, explains that one of the greatest difficulties with hepatitis B and C is that people can feel completely healthy while the disease progresses silently. According to recent estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), close to 1.6% of the Dominican population may be living with chronic hepatitis B and around 0.6% with hepatitis C, although many do not know they are infected.

There are five main types of viral hepatitis: A, B, C, D and E. While hepatitis A and E are usually transmitted through contaminated water or food and are generally acute infections, hepatitis B and C can become chronic diseases. Dr Uribe points out that these last two are the greatest concern because of their capacity to advance silently towards cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Dr Uribe warns that waiting for symptoms can delay diagnosis. By the time signs appear — yellowing of the skin and eyes, persistent tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, itching, dark urine or pale stools — liver damage may have been developing for years. She therefore recommends that all adults be tested for hepatitis B and C at least once in their lives.

Among the most important advances is liver elastography, or FibroScan, a non-invasive test that assesses the state of the liver in a few minutes. Hepatitis C also now has oral antivirals which, taken over eight to twelve weeks, cure more than 95% of patients. For hepatitis B there are also medicines that help control the disease and reduce the risk of complications.

On prevention, Dr Uribe recommends not sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers or needles, and going only to centres that guarantee proper sterilisation processes for medical and dental procedures, tattoos and piercings. She also points out that hepatitis B and C are not transmitted by hugging, sharing food or living with an infected person.

The specialist stresses that there are effective vaccines against hepatitis A and B, with hepatitis B immunisation one of the main tools for preventing infection and its complications. She also emphasises that a timely diagnosis opens the door to effective treatments and significantly improves patients’ outlook.

About Médico Express

Médico Express is a leading outpatient health centre in Santo Domingo Este, conceived to international standards to offer comprehensive, personalised and people-centred care. Its model of care brings together more than 40 medical specialities, cutting-edge technology, advanced diagnostic services, outpatient surgery, emergency care, telemedicine and programmes geared to prevention and wellbeing, guaranteeing a health experience that is humane, efficient, safe and innovative.

Among the institution’s main achievements is its international Patient Experience certification awarded with distinction by Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA), a recognition that made Médico Express the first centre in Central America and the Caribbean to earn it. It also holds Fitwel certification, which recognises its facilities as spaces designed to promote health, wellbeing and a better quality of life for patients, staff and visitors.