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Hepatitis comes in many forms but is generally known as a viral infection or liver damage caused by drinking alcohol. While some types of hepatitis will pass without any issues, serious cases can result in liver scarring and even liver cancer. This is why World Hepatitis Day is so important.
In this guide, learn more about World Hepatitis Day and why it is important to raise awareness and take action when it comes to hepatitis.
World Hepatitis Day is held on July 28th every year. This date was chosen because it is the birthday of Dr Baruch Blumberg, the Nobel-prize-winning scientist who discovered Hepatitis B and its diagnostic test and vaccine.
Unlike other diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and Malaria, that have a large amount of coverage, Hepatitis has been overlooked. Starting with the World Hepatitis Alliance in 2008, the aim of World Hepatitis Day is to raise awareness of hepatitis as people are less likely to know about the different forms of hepatitis and their symptoms.
By raising more awareness, people are more likely to see the signs of hepatitis and get a diagnosis before the symptoms become worse. Additionally, more time and money can be spent on key interventions such as universal vaccination and better treatment.
The theme of World Hepatitis Day 2024 is to Take Action. As hepatitis can be preventable, it is time to raise awareness about the symptoms of hepatitis and demand more testing, treatment, and vaccinations to reach World Hepatitis Day’s goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030.
This campaign voices the need for more awareness of hepatitis by demanding leaders, politicians, doctors, and communities to take action and do their part to eliminate hepatitis. From asking leaders to have a bigger influence in making sure hepatitis vaccinations and treatments are in place to asking doctors to help test, treat, and vaccinate patients, this campaign aims to raise awareness, communicate the need for action, and amplify the voices of those affected by hepatitis.
With over 2 million new cases of hepatitis and 1.3 million people losing their lives to hepatitis each year, it is easy to see why this preventable disease should be taken more seriously. In fact, hepatitis is now the world’s deadliest virus after COVID-19.
Adequate testing, treatment, and vaccination should be in place to ensure there are no more unnecessary deaths due to this preventable disease. World Hepatitis Day reminds people to take action and raise awareness each year.
Hepatitis is liver inflammation caused by infectious or non-infectious diseases. It can lead to various health issues and can be life-threatening, especially if left untreated. You may not know it, but there are actually seven types of hepatitis.
Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is most common in places where sanitation is poor, as you can get this type of hepatitis from consuming food that is contaminated with the poo of an infected person.
This type of hepatitis is usually mild, but there are occasions when it can become severe or life-threatening. There is no specific treatment needed for this type of hepatitis as the symptoms are mild. You simply have to let the symptoms pass.
Vaccinations against hepatitis A are recommended if you are going to places where there is a high risk of infection or where you may not be able to get the medical help you require. The vaccine is recommended for travellers to areas such as the Indian subcontinent, Africa, Central and South America, the Far East, and Eastern Europe.
Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus, which is spread through an infected person’s blood rather than faecal matter. This is a common infection that can be spread from infected pregnant women to their babies through child-to-child contact, unprotected sex, or injecting drugs.
The infection is most common in areas such as Southeast Asia or sub-Saharan Africa, but it is uncommon in the UK. If you are travelling to these areas, we recommend you get a vaccination against hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C is caused by a virus of the same name. This is spread through blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. Hepatitis C is most likely to occur through sharing needles used to inject drugs, whether this be in poor healthcare practices or drug use.
In some cases, people will be able to fight off the hepatitis C virus without the need for medication or treatment. However, in some cases, the virus can stay in the blood for many years and lead to chronic hepatitis C, causing cirrhosis or liver failure.
Hepatitis D is caused by the hepatitis D virus. This type of hepatitis is a little different, as you need to have hepatitis B present in your body for the hepatitis D virus to survive. Typically spread through blood-to-blood contact or sexual contact, hepatitis D is relatively uncommon in the UK due to the need for hepatitis B to be present.
This form of hepatitis is more common in other parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America.
Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. It is associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked pork meat or offal, wild boar meat, venison, and shellfish. Although it is generally a mild and short-term illness, hepatitis E can become more serious in those with a weakened immune system.
Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol rather than a virus. This is a common condition in the UK. As there are usually no symptoms of Alcoholic Hepatitis, many people may not realise they have it. You can reduce your risk of this form of hepatitis by stopping drinking to allow your liver to recover.
This rare form of hepatitis is where the immune system attacks and damages the liver. This can lead to the liver becoming so damaged that it no longer works properly. There are no clear causes for autoimmune hepatitis, so it is hard to determine if anything can prevent this type of hepatitis.
There are some overlapping symptoms of hepatitis, as there are several forms of the infection or disease. Some symptoms of Hepatitis A, B, and C include:
Blood tests are the only way to determine whether you have a form of hepatitis infection. These tests can detect past or present infection. To test for Hepatitis A, B, and C, a blood test will be used to analyse your blood sample for antibodies for each of these types of hepatitis and the genetic material of hepatitis B and C.
If you require a test for hepatitis, you can either go to your GP, who will refer you to the NHS for a blood test, a sexual health clinic, or a liver clinic. You can also purchase home testing kits from your local pharmacy or online.
Hepatitis A and B are usually mild, meaning no specific treatment is needed to treat these infections. However, these forms of hepatitis, as well as Hepatitis C, D, and E, can all be serious, and specialist treatment will be needed. For example, antiviral medicine such as sofosbuvir can be used to treat Hepatitis C, whilst ribavirin may be used to treat Hepatitis E.
Your doctor will be able to prescribe you the correct treatment depending on the type and severity of hepatitis you have.
To ensure you are doing your part to help spread the word about hepatitis, you can get involved in one of the many events during World Hepatitis Day. Previous events have included rock concerts, press briefings, and fundraisers.
From one-minute actions such as sending World Hepatitis Day graphics to your friends and family to longer actions like holding an event or webinar, why not get involved this World Hepatitis Day? For more information on how you can play your part, take a look at the list of actions you can complete this year on the World Hepatitis Day website.
Days like World Hepatitis Day remind us to take control of our own health. At Home Health, you can find a range of helpful guides to help you spot the signs of hepatitis and other diseases, such as chlamydia, Strep A and even toothache. You can also find a range of home testing kits to ensure you stay informed about your health. Join the fight for greater hepatitis awareness today!
World Hepatitis Day is held on July 28th every year to commemorate Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered Hepatitis B and its test and vaccine.
The symptoms of hepatitis can differ depending on the type of hepatitis you have. Common symptoms include:
The type of hepatitis changes the way you may contract the infection or disease. For example, Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food with the faecal matter of an infected person, whereas Hepatitis D spreads through blood-to-blood contact with Hepatitis B still present.
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