World Hepatitis Day

• 29 Jul 2023

Source: HT

Why in News?

World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes place every year on 28^th 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.