About World Hepatitis Day:
- It is observed each year on July 28 to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, which causes inflammation of the liver that leads to severe disease and liver cancer.
- It is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2023 is "We're not waiting". This theme highlights the need for urgent action to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.
- Why July 28?
- July 28 is the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg (1925–2011).
- Blumberg discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967, and 2 years later, he developed the first hepatitis B vaccine.
- These achievements culminated in Dr. Blumberg winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1976.
What is Hepatitis?
- Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.
- Inflammation is swelling that happens when tissues of the body are injured or infected.
- It can damage your liver. This swelling and damage can affect how well your liver functions.
- Hepatitis can be an acute (short-term) infection or a chronic (long-term) infection.
- What causes hepatitis? There are different types of hepatitis, with different causes:
- Viral hepatitis is the most common type. It is caused by one of several viruses -- hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, and E.
- Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by heavy alcohol use.
- Toxic hepatitis can be caused by certain poisons, chemicals, medicines, or supplements.
- Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic type in which your body's immune system attacks your liver. The cause is not known, but genetics and your environment may play a role.
- How is viral hepatitis spread?
- Hepatitis A and hepatitis E usually spread through contact with food or water that is contaminated with an infected person's You can also get hepatitis E by eating undercooked food.
- Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and hepatitis D spread through contact with the blood of someone who has the disease.
- Hepatitis B and D may also spread through contact with other body fluids. This can happen in many ways, such as sharing drug needles or having unprotected sex.
- Symptoms: Some people with hepatitis do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. Common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Clay-coloured bowel movements
- Joint pain
- Jaundice, yellowing of your skin and eyes
- Treatment:
- Treatment for hepatitis depends on which type you have and whether it is acute or chronic.
- Acute viral hepatitis often goes away on its own.
- There are different medicines to treat the different chronic types of hepatitis.
- Possible other treatments may include surgery and other medical procedures.
