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World Hepatitis Day's Mission

World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28th annually to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and promote prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) set up a collaboration with other organisations and governments to address the global burden of viral hepatitis.
• The World Health Organisation chose the date to honour Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed diagnostic tests and a vaccine.
• Hepatitis is liver inflammation caused by viral infections, including types A, B, C, D, and E.
• Transmission occurs through contaminated food, water, unprotected sex, sharing needles, and mother-to-child contact during childbirth.
• Global events educate people about hepatitis types, transmission, prevention, testing, and vaccination.
• Advocacy efforts aim to improve treatment access and reduce hepatitis-related stigma.
• Each year, World Hepatitis Day has a specific theme focusing on prevention and control.
• The ultimate goal is to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat through increased awareness and collective action.

What is the Importance and Significance of World Hepatitis Day (WHD)?

• Raise awareness about viral hepatitis and promote prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Honour Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Blumberg's contributions to hepatitis research and public health.
• Educate people about hepatitis types, transmission, prevention, testing, and vaccination.
• Improve treatment access and reduce hepatitis-related stigma through advocacy efforts.
• Focus on specific aspects of hepatitis prevention and control with annual themes.
• Work towards eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat through increased awareness and collective action.

World Hepatitis Day's Call to Action

 

What is Viral Hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver caused by various viruses. There are several types of viral hepatitis and different viruses that cause them. The most common include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E. These viruses can lead to acute or chronic infections and have different modes of transmission and health implications.

1. Hepatitis A (HAV) spreads through contaminated food or water or close contact with an infected person. It typically causes an acute infection, and patients recover without long-term consequences.
2. Hepatitis B (HBV): This virus spreads through contact with infected blood and bodily fluids or from mother to child during childbirth. HBV can lead to acute and chronic infections, potentially causing serious liver complications over time.
3. Hepatitis C (HCV): HCV primarily transmits through contact with infected blood, often due to sharing needles or syringes during drug use. HCV can also spread through sexual contact, though less commonly. Chronic HCV infections can lead to severe liver damage and liver cancer.
4. Hepatitis D (HDV): HDV is a virus that cannot replicate on its own and relies on HBV for its replication. It can only infect individuals already infected with HBV. The combination of HDV and HBV can result in more severe liver disease.
5. Hepatitis E (HEV) spreads mainly through contaminated water in areas with poor sanitation. While it usually causes acute and self-limiting infections, it can be dangerous for pregnant women, leading to severe liver complications.

Symptoms of viral hepatitis can include fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Occasionally, hepatitis infections can be asymptomatic, especially in the early stages. Preventing viral hepatitis includes vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, practising good hygiene, food safety, and safe injection measures.

 

How do I prevent the hepatitis virus?

Preventing hepatitis virus infections involves the following measures:

• Vaccination: Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Vaccines are available for these types of hepatitis and can provide long-term protection.
• Practise Good Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before eating or using the restroom. Avoid close contact with people who have hepatitis.
• Food and Water Safety: Be cautious about consuming raw or undercooked food, and drink clean water. Avoid eating in places with poor hygiene standards.
• Safe Sexual Practises: Practise safe sex, such as using condoms, to reduce the risk of hepatitis transmission through sexual contact.
• Avoid Sharing Needles: Never share needles or syringes. Use sterile equipment for injections.
• In medical settings, use precautions: Ensure proper sterilisation of medical and dental equipment before use. If you are on medical treatment, ensure all instruments are clean and disposable when necessary.
• Mother-to-Child Transmission: Pregnant women with hepatitis should seek medical advice to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to their babies during childbirth.
• Get Tested: If you think you may have been exposed to the hepatitis virus or are at high risk, get tested to know your status and seek appropriate medical care.
• Hepatitis E Precautions: In areas with poor sanitation, be cautious about drinking water from unreliable sources and maintain good personal hygiene.
• Raise Awareness: Promote awareness about hepatitis transmission and prevention among family, friends, and the community.

With these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of contracting and spreading hepatitis viruses.

 

Who is at risk for hepatitis?

Individuals at risk for hepatitis include:

• Unvaccinated Individuals: Those who have not received vaccinations for hepatitis A and B are at risk for these specific types of viral hepatitis.
• People with High-Risk Behaviours: Individuals who engage in risky behaviours such as sharing needles or syringes for drug use, having unprotected sex with multiple partners, or engaging in other activities that may expose them to infected blood or bodily fluids are at increased risk.
• Healthcare Workers: Healthcare professionals are at risk of contracting hepatitis if they come into contact with blood or bodily fluids and do not follow proper infection control measures.
• People with Multiple Sexual Partners: Having unprotected sexual contact with multiple partners increases the risk of hepatitis transmission, especially for hepatitis B and C.
• Individuals with Liver Disease: Those with existing liver conditions may be more susceptible to severe complications if they contract viral delta hepatitis.
• Travellers to High-Risk Areas: People travelling to regions with poor sanitation and higher rates of hepatitis transmission may be at risk, particularly for hepatitis A and E.
• Pregnant Women: Pregnant women are at risk of complications from certain types of liver disease, such as hepatitis E, which can be particularly dangerous during pregnancy.
• People in Institutional Settings: Those residing in or spending time in closed or crowded environments, such as correctional facilities, are at a higher risk of hepatitis transmission.
• Injecting Drug Users: Individuals who inject drugs using shared needles or syringes are at significant risk of contracting hepatitis, especially hepatitis B and C.
• Recipients of Blood Transfusions and Organ Transplants: Although rare now due to strict screening protocols, receiving blood or organs from infected donors can pose a risk of hepatitis transmission.
• Children born to Hepatitis-Infected Mothers: Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B or C are at risk of contracting the virus during childbirth.

It's important to note that the risk of jaundice varies depending on the type and the individual's lifestyle and circumstances. Vaccination, practising safe behaviours, and getting tested regularly can help reduce the risk of hepatitis transmission and its potential complications.

 

What are the recent updates in hepatitis treatment?

• Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) Medications: For hepatitis C (HCV), the introduction of DAA medications revolutionised treatment. DAAs are highly effective, well-tolerated, and offer cure rates exceeding 95% almost entirely. They have shortened treatment durations and reduced side effects compared to older therapies.
• Improved Hepatitis B Management: Advancements have been made in managing the infection, although a complete cure for hepatitis B (HBV) remains challenging. Healthcare providers commonly use nucleotide analogues to suppress viral replication and reduce liver damage in chronic HBV patients.
• Combination Therapies: Some research has focused on combining multiple antiviral agents to enhance treatment outcomes and overcome drug resistance in certain cases.
• Expanded Access to Treatment: Scientists make Efforts to improve access to hepatitis treatment in low- and middle-income countries, where the cost is often higher.
• Liver Transplantation: For end-stage liver disease resulting from chronic viral hepatitis, liver transplantation remains an essential treatment option for eligible patients.
• Vaccination Campaigns: Ongoing efforts have been essential in promoting vaccination against hepatitis A and B.

It's important to note that medical research, new treatments, and breakthroughs may have emerged since my last update. For the most current information on hepatitis treatment, we recommend consulting reputable medical sources and recent studies or consulting with healthcare professionals who are up-to-date with the latest developments in this field.