Hepatitis Disease: Facts To Know

Hepatitis is a liver inflammation disease caused by viral infections, toxins, or heavy alcohol consumption.

These viruses replicate (multiply) primarily in the liver cells, causing the liver to be unable to perform its functions, thereby leading to a series of health problems, including liver cancer and death.

Symptoms usually include fever, fatigue, body aches, dark urine, muscle pain, loss of appetite, light-colored stools, nausea, and vomiting.

‘World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on July 28 every year, and this year’s theme is called “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down.” 

Important facts to know about Hepatitis

1. Hepatitis is the leading 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 do not know they are infected, as symptoms of the disease are hard to detect, and 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. Consuming alcohol definitely makes the scarring of the liver worse and progresses faster in both Hepatitis B and C.

8. People who already have chronic hepatitis B are at risk of becoming infected with a second virus, hepatitis D, also called Delta hepatitis.

9. The most common cause of hepatitis B transmission globally is mother-to-infant, so...