World Hepatitis Day is marked every 12 months on July 28 to lift awareness about liver infections that take hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. This 12 months’s theme is “one life, one liver.”
“You’ve got only got one life, and you have only got one liver. Hepatitis can devastate each,” WHO explained the theme on its website, highlighting the necessity for healthy liver for a healthy life.
What’s Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver brought on by viruses, alcohol, toxins or certain medications.
Viral hepatitis
Probably the most common hepatitis is viral hepatitis brought on by hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E. Within the U.S., hepatitis A, B and C are probably the most common types.
- Hepatitis A: It’s a liver inflammation that may end up in mild to severe illness. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or through contaminated food and water. Prevention: Consuming secure drinking water, proper sewage disposal and private hygiene practice help to combat the virus. A secure and effective vaccine is obtainable to forestall hepatitis A.
- Hepatitis B: It’s a contagious liver infection brought on by the hepatitis B virus, which gets transmitted through blood, semen or other body fluids. The infection can spread through sexual contact, sharing needles or other drug-injection equipment, or while pregnant and delivery. After contracting the virus, some people show symptoms like fatigue, poor appetite, stomach pain, nausea and jaundice. In some case, the infection becomes chronic and result in serious, even life-threatening, health issues like liver disease or liver cancer. Prevention: The most effective approach to prevent hepatitis B is to get vaccinated.
- Hepatitis C: The infection is brought on by the hepatitis C virus that spreads through blood from an infected person. Probably the most common way it’s spread is when an individual with hepatitis C virus shares needles or other equipment used for injecting drugs. Greater than half of the infected people develop chronic illnesses from hepatitis infection, which might result in cirrhosis and liver cancer. Prevention: The most effective approach to prevent Hepatitis C is to avoid dangerous behaviors similar to sharing needles. It’s also essential to get tested for hepatitis C as most cases may be cured in eight to 12 weeks.
Alcoholic hepatitis
It’s a style of liver infection brought on by excessive use of alcohol. Overuse of alcohol causes liver damage and results in alcoholic hepatitis over time. Severe alcoholic hepatitis can develop impulsively and escalate to liver failure and death.
Symptoms:
- Tenderness of abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting blood
- Poor appetite
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
- Weight reduction
- Fatigue
- Fever
Prevention:
Some persons are very sensitive to alcohol, while others can drink more without inducing liver issues. Genetics and sex difference play a job in determining alcohol sensitivity. Hence, it just isn’t possible to prescribe a “secure” amount of alcohol for everybody. The one approach to prevent alcoholic hepatitis is to completely avoid its use.
Published by Medicaldaily.com