World Hepatitis Day-What Can We Do?

World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes places every year on 28 July and brings the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change. One of just four disease-specific global awareness days officially endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), WHD unites patient organisations, governments, medical professionals, civil society, industry and the general public to boost the global profile of viral hepatitis.

What Is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It may be caused by drugs, alcohol use, or certain medical conditions. But in most cases, it's caused by a virus. This is known as viral hepatitis, and the most common forms are hepatitis A, B, and C.

Hepatitis A. This type won't lead to long-term infection and usually doesn't cause any complications.Your liver heals in about 2-4 months. You can prevent it with a vaccine.

Hepatitis B. Most adult recover from this type in 6 months. For infants and children, the risk of becoming  chronic hepatitis patient is much higher. Long-term infection could lead to liver damage. Once you've got the disease, you can spread the virus even if you don't feel sick. You won't catch it if you get a vaccine.

Hepatitis C. Many people with this type don't have any symptoms. About 80% of those with the disease get a long-term infection. It can sometimes lead to cirrhosis, ascarring of the liver. There's no vaccine to prevent it.

How Does Hepatitis Spread?

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A usually spreads through food or water.

Hepatitis B

You can get it if you:

Have sex with someone who's infected

Share dirty needles when using illegal drugs

Have direct contact with infected blood or the body fluids of someone who's got the disease

If you're pregnant and you've got hepatitis B, you could give the disease to your unborn child. If you deliver a baby who's got it, he needs to get treatment in the first 12 hours after birth.

Hepatitis C

Just like hepatitis B, you can get this type by sharing needles and having contact with infected blood. You can also catch it by having sex with somebody who's infected, but that's less common.

The blood used in transfusions is safe. It gets checked beforehand to make sure it's free of the virus that causes hepatitis B or C.

Hepatitis Symptoms

Some people withhepatitis have no symptoms, when symptoms occur, they can include:

jaundice (ayellowing of the skin and eyes)

abdominal pain

loss of appetite

nausea andvomiting

diarrhea

fever

Hepatitis Prevention

Stay Clean

Good personal habits will help reduce the spread of hepatitis A and hepatitis E. If you’re in a place where you’re not sure things are clean, boil water. Cook all food welland peel all fruit.

To prevent the spread of hepatitis B, stay away from the blood or body of someone who has it. That means no kissing or sex. Don’t share razors, scissors, nail files, toothbrushes, or needles, either.

Get Vaccinated

If you plan to travel to countries where hepatitis is widespread, get protected. You can get vaccinations for hepatitis A and B.
Renai International Department offers hepatitis B vaccine injection and HBV screening test . We aim to protect you against any risk of hepatitis B infection.

For those who don't have hepatitis B antibody, or those who are around hepatitis B virus carriers, hepatitis B vaccine injection is strongly recommended.