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WORLD HEPATITIS DAY

WORLD HEPATITIS DAY

Why in News?

World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes place every year on 28th July bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change.

What are the Key Points Related to WHD?

Theme 2023: One life, one liver.

Significance:

• On this day, communities, people, and politicians may learn about the many varieties of hepatitis, as well as about preventative strategies, testing, and treatment choices.
• It promotes global advocacy and cooperation in the fight against the rising number of hepatitis-related diseases and fatalities.

What is Hepatitis?

About:

• The word hepatitis refers to any inflammation of the liver — the irritation or swelling of the liver cells from any cause.
• It can be acute (inflammation of the liver that presents with sickness — jaundice, fever, vomiting) or chronic (inflammation of the liver that lasts more than six months, but essentially showing no symptoms).

Causes:

• Usually caused by a group of viruses known as the “hepatotropic” (liver directed) viruses, including A, B, C, D and E.
• Other viruses may also cause it, such as the varicella virus that causes chicken pox.
• SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19 may injure the liver too.
• Other causes include drugs and alcohol abuse, fat buildup in the liver (fatty liver hepatitis) or an autoimmune process in which a person’s body makes antibodies that attack the liver (autoimmune hepatitis).

Types of Hepatitis:

Hepatitis A virus (HAV): It is an inflammation of the liver that can cause mild to severe illness.

It is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infectious person (sex practices). Almost everyone recovers fully from hepatitis A with a lifelong immunity (few people with HAV could die from fulminant hepatitis). A safe and effective vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV): It is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. It is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth, in early childhood, during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections. Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccines.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV): The virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness to a serious, lifelong illness including liver cirrhosis and cancer. It is a bloodborne virus and most infection occurs through exposure to unsafe health care, blood transfusions, injection drug use and sexual practices. Direct-acting antiviral medicines (DAAs) can cure more than 95% of persons with hepatitis C infection, but access to diagnosis and treatment is low. There is currently no effective vaccine against hepatitis C.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV): It is a virus that requires hepatitis B virus (HBV) for its replication. It affects globally nearly 5% of people who have a chronic infection with HBV.

Hepatitis B and D can infect people together (co-infection) or one after the other (super-infection). This is more common in native people, dialysis patients and drug users. Having both viruses is very bad for the liver and can cause cancer or death. Hepatitis D infection can be prevented by hepatitis B immunization, but treatment success rates are low.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV): It is an inflammation of the liver caused by infection with the HEV. It is found worldwide, but most common in East and South Asia. The virus is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, principally via contaminated water. A vaccine to prevent hepatitis E virus infection has been developed and is licensed in China but is not yet available elsewhere.

What are the Government Initiatives to Tackle Hepatitis?

National Viral Hepatitis Control Program: The Program aims to end viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 in the country.

India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP): Hepatitis B is included under India's UIP which provides free of cost vaccination against eleven vaccine-preventable diseases i.e., Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea.