Worldwide, approximately 300 million individuals are unknowingly living with viral hepatitis, unaware of their infection. Shockingly, a person loses their life to a hepatitis-related illness every 30 seconds, underscoring the urgent need to raise awareness and initiate action.
The theme for this year’s World Hepatitis Day is ‘One Life One Liver’ that is emphasizing the necessity of intensifying efforts in combating viral hepatitis and stressing the importance of screening and providing care to those in need. Among the most prevalent types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
What is Hepatitis?
Your liver, the largest organ in the body, helps in digestion, energy storage, and removal of toxins from your food. However, Hepatitis is a viral illness that can disrupt these significant processes and pose a threat to your well-being. While some hepatitis infections are short-lived and acute, others can be chronic, which can lead to severe consequences such as liver failure, cancer, or even fatal outcomes. This is why it is important to comprehend the transmission, detection, and treatment of this deadly infection.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection that is caused by the Hepatitis A virus. It is mainly transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water or because of contact with an already infected person. Make sure you maintain high levels of personal hygiene to stay protected from this virus. This virus is usually spread through-
Contact in-house with an infected person
Sexual Contact with an infected person
Contaminated food or water consumption
Touching contaminated surfaces
Healthy people who have good immunity levels can recover from Hepatitis A without specific treatment after a few weeks.
Hepatitis B
Unlike Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B has the potential to turn into a chronic infection in certain individuals. If left untreated, this virus can also lead to serious complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. The transmission of hepatitis B can mainly occur through-
Mother-to-child transimission during birth.
Sexual contact with an infected partner.
Sharing needles with an infected person
Sharing personal items that may be contaminated with the virus.
If the immune system of an individual is capable enough to fight off the virus, acute hepatitis B does not require treatment. However, there is no cure available for chronic Hepatitis B. Nonetheless, there are oral or intravenous medications that can slow down the progression of this disease and prevent further liver damage.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C can mainly spread through the use of shared needles and syringes, as it spreads via the blood of an infected person. About 75-85 percent of individuals infected with Hepatitis C develop a chronic infection, that can lead to severe health complications and, in some cases, even causes death. The transimission of Hepatitis C can mainly occur through-
Sharing intravenous drugs with an infected individual
Sharing tattoo or piercing tools that may carry the virus
Receiving unsafe blood transfusion or organ transplant from an infected donor.
unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner.
5. Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy and childbirth.
The liver damage caused by Hepatitis C can be cured by further treatment options, which include surgery, liver transplant, or other necessary interventions.
