the world''s societies
The first Saudi woman specializing in pathogenic viruses, the Saudi researcher, Dr. Elham Talaat Kattan, the first postgraduate fellow specializing in viral liver diseases, and the first Saudi woman in the field of pathogenic viruses, explained that hepatitis C is one of the dangerous diseases that are spreading remarkably in global societies, Pointing out that liver failure as a result of chronic hepatitis (C) is the main reason for liver transplantation in the world. Dr. Talaat, who works in the department of viral liver diseases at the Royal Free Hospital in London, added that hepatitis caused by infection with the virus "c" is known as the "silent" epidemic because it remains unknown and is usually diagnosed in its chronic stages when it causes severe liver disease. Therefore, it must be resorted to. To the doctor in the event of suspicion of exposure to contaminated blood or in the event that the color of the eyes or skin has changed to yellow or when any of the symptoms of the infection occur that may not appear with the first stage of the infection, and if symptoms occur, they are often very weak and include a feeling of general fatigue, Nausea, loss of appetite, and general weakness in the area around the liver, but in the case of disease progression, the patient feels other symptoms such as: vomiting, yellowing of the color of the eyes and skin, and a slight rise in temperature, and the doctor should be resorted to immediately, especially if any of the following symptoms begin to appear: Increased feeling Persistent drowsiness, lack of focus or mood disorder, constipation, lower abdominal pain, increased jaundice, and dermatitis.
She indicated that 15-20% of the people infected with hepatitis C virus are resistant to the disease and are able to recover without damage to the liver, while the rest of them have an imbalance and major damage to the liver, and this happens very slowly and without the patient feeling the attack of the disease, referring to about 85 % Of those infected with the virus have acute and chronic development of the virus, and about 20% of these patients develop cirrhosis within 20 years of the beginning of infection, and 5% of them develop liver cancer after that.
She explained that the diagnosis of the presence of the virus in the body does not always mean the patient’s need for treatment except when the virus appears in the bloodstream in the body, which is diagnosed with a PCR-HCV-RNA test, elevated liver enzymes in the blood, and in some cases taking a prick from the liver, and if the patient is Suffering from a slight defect in the efficiency of the liver, it may be advised not to follow drug treatment, because the chances of disease development and spread are slight compared to the severe negative effect of treatment. Blood that detects the presence of antibodies.
About its beginnings and specialization in infectious viruses, she said
My parents helped and encouraged me to complete postgraduate studies, and I applied to the Ministry of Health for my scholarships, but because there was no possibility at that time, my request was rejected, but I took the approval to study full-time without a salary and traveled at my father’s expense to study. Then came the approval of the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari, to grant me an open scholarship until Completion of my studies due to the scarcity of my specialty being the first Saudi woman to specialize in this field (pathogenic and molecular viruses).
Regarding what the Saudi woman has achieved, she said: What the Saudi woman has achieved calls for pride, as she struggled and innovated in all fields and disciplines to reach a global reputation....
