What do you know about hepatitis?



Today is world hepatitis day. As the world marks today, it is important that we understand what hepatitis really is, how it affects our lives, the facts and figures about it, and how we can protect ourselves from it, so we can live longer and more fulfilling lives.
WHAT IS HEPATITIS:
Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation brought about by a virus. It may present in acute (recent infection, relatively rapid onset) or chronic forms.
The most common causes of viral hepatitis are the five unrelated hepatotropic viruses hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E.
While the most common types Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccination, or treated when they occur, effective treatments for hepatitis C are available but expensive.
FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT HEPATITIS
In 2013 about 1.5 million people died from viral hepatitis. Most deaths are due to hepatitis B and hepatitis C. East Asia is the region of the world most affected.
As at 2015, 325 million people were living with chronic hepatitis infections.
Globally, 1.3 million people died of hepatitis in 2015.
95% of people with hepatitis C can be cured within 2 – 3 Months.
At the 69th World Health Assembly in Geneva, 194 governments adopted WHO’s global strategy on Viral Hepatitis, which includes a goal of eliminating hepatitis B and C in the next 13 years. The community launched NOhep, a global movement aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.
Data from 28 countries representing approximately 70% of the global hepatitis burden, reveals that nearly all 28 have established high-level national hepatitis elimination committees, with more than half of them matching their words with action by allocating funding for hepatitis treatment.

HOW TO STAY HEPATITIS FREE

1. AWARENESS
Safety starts from awareness. It is important that we all are aware of the existence of hepatitis, their types, how they spread/are contracted. Hepatitis A and E are usually spread through contaminated food or water, as it is usually excreted through the feces of an infected person. Hepatitis B, C and D are primarily spread through contact with infected blood. Sexual transmission is common in hepatitis B.

2. VACCINATION
Hepatitis A and B both have vaccinations for them. It is therefore very important that children above a year old get vaccinated.


3. HYGIENE
Maintaining high hygiene standards reduces the risks of contracting hepatitis A and E. We need to ensure our hands are always washed, raw edible fruits thoroughly washed before consumption, and that we only drink clean water. We also need to abstain from sharing sharp objects, as well as stay away from blood and body fluids of people infected with hepatitis B.

4. SAFE SEX

Sex seems to be a constant with most diseases today. Hepatitis is no exception. Particularly with hepatitis B, casual and unprotected sex puts one at risk of infection. Sex with multiple partners or between two men also greatly increases the risk of infection.  

5. TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS

Understanding where hepatitis is rampant enables us take precautionary measures when we are travelling to countries where it is prevalent. Places like Eastern Europe, Mexico, parts of Africa, Asia and Central and South America are hot-spots. This means that when we traveled to the identified hot-spots, we ensure we do not expose ourselves to factors in our host environment that can increase our chance of contracting hepatitis.

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