World Hepatitis Day 28 July

It is a day commemorated to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis. It is an opportunity to step up national and interactive efforts on hepatitis.

It’s to encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public.

Theme: “Hepatitis free future” with a strong focus on preventing Hepatitis B among mothers and newborns.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that causes a range of problems that may progress to chronic liver disease or liver cancer. Hepatitis can be parasitic, bacteria, viral, autoimmune (body attacking itself) or genetic.

However of all the causes viral causes are the most common and most fatal.

Of the viral causes hepatitis A, B, C, D, E are the commonest.

Hepatitis A is a vaccine preventable hepatitis transmitted via feacal-oral. It is a contagious disease. People infected presents with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, fatigue, malaise.

It is usually self limiting and treatment is symptom management. It does not usually cause chronic complications.

Hepatitis B is transmitted by body fluids or blood products, sharing needles and syringes and by sexual intercourse.

Infected people presents with fatigue, poor appetite, yellow eyes, abdominal pain. This type of hepatitis can be prevented as there is a vaccine available. Anyone at any age can get the vaccine. In Zimbabwe children are vaccinated at the age of 6, 10 and 14weeks.

Treatment can be with antivirals but it usually progress to cause chronic liver disease and liver cancer.

Hepatitis C virus is also transmitted by body fluids, blood products, sharing needles and syringes and sexual intercourse.

Symptoms and signs are usually the same as those of Hepatitis B.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C but can be treated with antivirals. It also progress causing chronic liver disease and liver cancer.
Hepatitis D occurs as a coinfection with hepatitis B.

Transmission, signs and symptoms are the same as hepatitis B. If vaccinated against Hep B it also protects against Hepatitis D.

Hepatitis E istransmitted via feaco-oral route usually in shell fish, raw pig. There is no vaccine available.

Also self limiting and chronic complications are not common.

Zimbabwe Online Health Centre

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