The World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on July 28 every year globally. It’s 2020 theme, ‘Hepatitis-free future’, is focused on preventing hepatitis B among mothers and newborns and spreading awareness about the disease.
Hepatitis or viral Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver which causes a series of health problems, including liver cancer, and can also lead to death. Symptoms usually include fever, fatigue, and body aches, dark urine, muscle pain, loss of appetite, light-colored stools, nausea, and vomiting.
Here are 7 facts to know about Hepatitis:
1.Hepatitis is the biggest cause of liver cancer in the world.
2. There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus A, B, C, D, and E.
3. Hepatitis B and C combined are the most common causes of liver cancer with 1.3 million lives lost each year.
4. 90% of people living with Hepatitis are not aware they are infected as symptoms of the disease are hard to detect. There may be no symptoms at all sometimes particularly when it comes to hepatitis C.
5. Hepatitis A and E are mostly caused by the intake of contaminated food and water while Hepatitis B occurs after coming in contact with infected blood and Hepatitis C is caused by body fluids. Hepatitis D can only be contracted if the patient has already had hepatitis B.
6. Hepatitis B is treatable and 95% of people with hepatitis C can be completely cured within 2-3 months using antiviral medicines.
7.The most common cause of hepatitis B transmission globally is mother to the infant so pregnant women should be screened for the virus when they receive prenatal care.
8. There are vaccines available for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B but no effective vaccine against hepatitis C has been made till now.