World Hepatitis Day is an annual commemoration on July 28. A day carved out to speak about a global health issue that hardly catches the limelight, even though it is very serious. This date commemorates Dr. Baruch Blumberg, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who discovered and developed diagnostic tests and vaccines against Hepatitis B.
While conditions such as HIV/AIDS and malaria attract the lion’s share of media attention, hepatitis has long been one of the neglected diseases. The World Hepatitis Alliance launched this day in 2008 to turn the tables on that. And to assist in educating people on the very many forms of hepatitis and their various symptoms.
2024 Campaign: A Call to Action
The theme for this year’s World Hepatitis Day is “Take Action,” with utmost urgency since hepatitis is preventable. The campaign aims to create awareness of the need for increased testing and treatment access and, most essentially, vaccines in a bid to completely eradicate hepatitis by 2030.
It is a campaign for action that includes world leaders, policymakers, health professionals, and various other stakeholders. This campaign aims to:
- Create awareness about hepatitis
- Emphasise the urgent action required concerning hepatitis
- Raise the voice of victims whose lives have been affected by this disease
Significance of World Hepatitis Day
The numbers are chilling:
- 2 million new cases of hepatitis every single year
- 1.3 million people die every year from hepatitis
- Now the number two killer in the world, overtaking all but the COVID-19 virus
These statistics demand better testing, actions of treatment, and vaccination efforts be put in place around the globe. World Hepatitis Day is a reminder to do this work each year.
Hepatitis Primer
Hepatitis is any inflammation or condition resulting in impacted functioning of the liver due to infectious or noninfectious causes that might, in the end, cause severe hazardous health problems, even to the point of causing death. Here are the seven types of hepatitis:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D
- Hepatitis E
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Autoimmune hepatitis
Here is a list of each type:
Hepatitis A
- Caused by: Hepatitis A virus
- Transmission: Infection through infestive faeces, which may spread through eating food prepared by an infected person
- Seriousness: Usually mild, but can be severe in rare cases
- Management: Vaccination recommended for high-risk areas
Hepatitis B
- Causative Agent: Hepatitis B virus
- Transmission: From infected blood, mother-to-child, and unprotected sex
- Common in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
- Prevention: Vaccination is available and recommended for travelers
Hepatitis C
- Causative Agent: Hepatitis C virus
- Transmission: From blood to blood between people
- People at Risk: Involves sharing of syringes and poor health care procedures
- Complications that May Arise: It may result in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver failure
Hepatitis D
- Special feature: Requires Hepatitis B infection to survive
- Mode of transmission: Blood-to-blood contact or sexual contact
- Prevalence: In UK, it is rare in UK, but high in some European countries, the Middle East, Africa, and South America
Hepatitis E
- Caused by: Hepatitis E virus
- Mode of transmission: By eating under-cooked pig products, wild game or shellfish
- Severity: very mild, but can be fatal in case of a patient with immunodeficiency
Alcoholic Hepatitis
- Cause: Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Symptoms: Strictly symptomless
- Prevention: reduction of alcohol intake from social intake to abstinence
Autoimmune hepatitis
- Cause: Immune system attacks the liver
- Prevalence: Uncommon
- Outcomes: Can result in severe liver damage
- Prevention: There are no such preventive measures
Identifying Symptoms of Hepatitis
Though the hepatitis symptoms may vary with the type of hepatitis, the common symptoms are as follows:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Light-coloured stool
- Joint pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
Hepatitis Testing and Treatment
Testing for hepatitis involves blood tests to identify antibodies or genetic material
- GP referral to NHS for blood tests
- Sexual health clinics
- Liver clinics
- Home testing kits are also available both from pharmacies or online
Treatment for hepatitis depends entirely on the type and severity the person has:
- Hepatitis A and B: Most times, they are mild, and therefore can’t be treated with a specific treatment
- Hepatitis C: This infection can be treated using antiviral medications such as sofosbuvir
- Hepatitis E: In very severe cases, including those who are pregnant or have weakend immune systems, ribavirin can be used
You can play a part in raising awareness about hepatitis. The activities you could be part of include:
- Sharing World Hepatitis Day graphics on social media
- High-profile event attendance or organization
- Webinars or public information seminars
- Fundraising
The World Hepatitis Day website has a list of actions you can take, some of which you can complete in just one minute, while some require more time.
World Hepatitis Day reminds us of the importance of proactive health management. Following are a few steps you can take:
- Learn about hepatitis and its symptoms
- Vaccinate before going to risk areas
- Use safe sex methods and avoid sharing needles
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Get tested if you are in a situation where you suspect exposure or show the symptoms
Remember, early detection and treatment can make a big difference in managing hepatitis and preventing its spread.
Wrapping it up:
It is also symbolising the continuous combat with this global health threat: World Hepatitis Day. It is a day in which we can reach out, increase awareness, advocate for testing, and vaccinations, and solicit support for all of the people who suffer from this disease.
Whether you are sharing this information with friends and family, engaging at a local event, or just taking measures for the protection of your health, each thing counts. Together, we can make a difference and fight hepatitis, creating a healthier world for all.
Image courtesy of World Hepatitis Day
Zoom Health is a leading UK supplier of Home Health Tests and Earplugs
