These are the top causes of Hepatitis and some prevention measures
- by Joy Garcia
- in Medicine
- — Jul 29, 2020
The virtual seminar, titled 'Find the Missing Millions, ' was organised for World Hepatitis Day and aimed to provide awareness to health professionals and the community at large to fight against hepatitis.
There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus: A, B, C, D and E. Together, hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of deaths, with 1.3 million lives lost each year.
To mark World Hepatitis Day on 28 July, Hepatitis Scotland is urging Scots to consider specialist treatment for the disease and to encourage others with the condition to do the same. However, these are transmitted by consuming contaminated food and water and can cause significant outbreaks. They made it their mission to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Globally, viral Hepatitis causes 80% of deaths from liver cancer which is diagnosed in more than 800,000 people annually.
Eminent hepatologist from Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Dr Nazish Butt said that as most people living with hepatitis remained unaware, they could require repeated hospitalisation, expensive medicines and liver transplants, causing major financial burdens for their families as well as for the health system.
Thus, when your liver is damaged, essential body functions are hindered. Left untreated, hepatitis can lead to risky and sometimes, fatal liver diseases. Primary liver cancer is the fastest-growing cause of cancer death and, and the incidence is increasing more quickly than other cancers. You can contract hepatitis through blood contact or sexual intercourse.
Having antibodies does not mean you're immune to COVID-19
The resistant framework recalls how to make new antibodies if necessary to mount an assault, Creech included. A study published July 15, for example, looked at three different groups.
The WHO's 2020 theme is "Hepatitis-free future" with a strong focus on preventing hepatitis B among mothers and newborns.
The most common symptoms of these viruses include loss of appetite, yellow discolouration of skin and eyes (jaundice), pale stools, dark urine, abdominal pain, joint pain, fatigue, sudden weight loss, nausea, fever, vomiting, etc. Transfusions with infected blood and sharing razors or needles (injections) with infected persons can also lead to infection. Available evidence also indicates that those at high risk of infection, including people who inject drugs and people in prison, are not being effectively targeted for testing. The vaccine is also recommended for adults who are at high risk of contracting Hepatitis B, and it is an extremely effective way for prevention. Safer sex practices, including minimizing the number of partners and using barrier protective measures (condoms), also protect against transmission.
The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2020 is "Hepatitis-free future". And, for that, you need to be aware of the early signs and symptoms of different types of hepatitis.
Stopping vertical transmission of HBV is a key pillar of the global "triple elimination" initiative, which seeks to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of three infections that are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries: "HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B virus", added Dr Doherty.
What can people with Hepatitis do in times of COVID-19?
