What is Hepatitis?

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.