“Primary care physicians need to know the prevalence in their country, the clinical consequences of infection, how to screen, how to confirm the diagnosis, and how to refer the patient to a specialist if necessary,” Professor Jean-Michel Pawlotsky, MD, PhD, director of the National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis at the Henri Mondor University Hospital in Créteil, France, told Medscape Medical News.
“They need to know the difference between active infection and cured HCV or asymptomatic HBV carriage in order to counsel their patients appropriately,” he added. “Primary care physicians can play an important role if they are well informed about the disease, its prevention, and diagnosis.”
Marko Korenjak, MA
Marko Korenjak, MA, president of the European Liver Patients’ Association, said primary care physicians also have a significant role in informing patients about transmission prevention and vaccination.
“They are essential in the ongoing care of patients by monitoring disease progression and treatment regimens and managing comorbid conditions that can exacerbate liver disease, such as obesity, diabetes, and alcohol use. They act as the central point for coordinating care between specialists, ensuring patients receive comprehensive and cohesive treatment.”
Duffell stressed it is crucial that primary care physicians stay well informed about hepatitis, be aware of local testing guidance, understand the diagnostic tests, and know the local care pathway that follows once a person receives a diagnosis.
Vaccination remains the cornerstone of hepatitis B prevention and primary care practitioners can play a key role in helping to address the gaps in coverage.
“Recent declines in vaccine coverage seen in some countries across Europe are concerning and primary care practitioners are well placed to support local efforts in maximizing hepatitis B vaccine coverage as part of the childhood vaccination schedule and in reaching out to vulnerable populations at increased risk who may not be vaccinated,” stressed Duffell.
Siobhan Harris has been a health and medical journalist for WebMD/Medscape Medical News since 2009. She has a law degree from the University of Sheffield and a postgraduate diploma in journalism. She has worked as a national/international news journalist at ITN, BBC, and BFBS Forces News.
Source link : https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/primary-care-must-its-game-end-hepatitis-europe-2024a1000dup
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Publish date : 2024-07-29 11:15:22
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