The Hindu Business Line : H.pylori poses serious threat in rural AP

Hyderabad June 18 A silent epidemic seems to be affecting a large number of people in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh. Incidence of infections like H.pylori that cause stomach ulcers and cancers are found to have affected about 80 per cent of population in Kurnool district.

Helicobacter pylori, or H.pylori, are water-borne bacteria that infect stomach and duodenum.

A study by a leading hospital revealed startling figures on a very high incidence of gastro-intestine problems in rural areas.

EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS

Data collected by the city-based Asian Institute of Gastroenterology in 53 mandals, covering 873 villages and 40,000 patients proved the worst fears of medical professionals about the presence of H.pylori right.

According to Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy of AIG, gastrointestinal problems, gastro and liver cancers and nutrition-related diseases such as anaemia are rampant.

The hospital had launched a rural project a year ago that was aimed at offering latest healthcare solutions to people in rural areas. The study also found that there was huge urban-rural divide when it came to incidence of some serious ailments.

While the incidence of H.pylori was just 20 per cent in urban areas, it was put at 80 per cent in rural areas. The equation almost held good for nutrition-related problems.

These diseases could have been avoided if they had access to protected water and good sanitation. "Two-thirds of people are not taking protected water," he pointed out.

Awareness levels

The study also showed that awareness levels about vaccination to some common but widespread diseases such as hepatitis-B and hepatitis-C were just five per cent and two per cent, respectively.

After scanning the whole of Kurnool with the help of a mini-hospital (a satellite-connected bus that is equipped to handle minor surgeries), the hospital is planning to offer similar services in Mahboobnagar, followed by Nalgonda.

Dr Jayaprakash Narayan of Lok Satta lamented that India was in the company of Myanmar, Cambodia and Afghanistan in terms of public spending on healthcare.

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