National President of the Society for Castrology and Hematology in Nigeria, Professor Musa Mohammed Borodo, said at the weekend that about 20 million Nigerians are suffering from hepatitis.

Borodo, who is of the Department of Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, stated this in Ilorin during the society's annual general meeting and science conference.

The event with the theme "Infectious Diseases and Castrology Practice in Nigeria", was aimed at providing avenue to improve the skills and knowledge of members, it was gathered.

Borodo said hepatitis is very serious ailment that requires adequate attention. He said the disease affects the liver and that there are about four types. According to him, the notorious ones that cause long term problems are hepatitis B, C, and D.

He said: "Hepatitis is a bedevilling condition all over the world. And it can affect various parts of the body, particularly the gastric external track. About 400 million people are affected in terms of evidence of having that infection in their systems and in Nigeria, 20 million people are presented with hepatitis B in particular. Infections are very common, especially in developing countries like ours because it is the major source of illnesses in our people and yet not contained".

"The ailment can be gotten through contaminated blood, blood transfusion among others. Usually, patients may present with eye problem, abdominal pains, and subsequently if the problem is not contained, the liver may get swollen or the legs. If the patient is not lucky, it could develop to cancer. Hepatitis is curable if patients go to the hospital on time," he added.