World Hepatitis Day: 4 Important Things You Should Know

Like every year, World Hepatitis Day 2022 will be observed on July 28. World Hepatitis Day aims to spread awareness about Hepatitis and its impact. It is estimated one person dies every thirty seconds due to a Hepatitis related condition [1]. Apart from that, WHO stated that Hepatitis occurs more in children. Given this alarming statistic, it is important to know about Hepatitis and the measures you can take to protect yourself.

On World Hepatitis Day 2022, go the extra mile to protect yourself and others around you and help those who live with Hepatitis. This way, you can do your part and work towards WHO's aim to eliminate Hepatitis by 2030.

Read on to learn more about Hepatitis and World Hepatitis Day 2022.

History and Origin of World Hepatitis Day 

World Hepatitis Day received global endorsement in 2010. It was at the 63rd World Health Assembly when the date, July 28, was declared World Hepatitis Day. The date is to honor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B and its vaccine. As mentioned above, the main aim of World Hepatitis Day is to spread awareness. The day aims to make and introduce global efforts to eradicate hepatitis infections.

Hepatitis is a serious condition that causes millions of deaths. Despite advancements in diagnostic tools and treatment, many remain untreated due to no diagnosis. As a result, it becomes imperative to educate people about Hepatitis.

Overview of Hepatitis  

In simple terms, Hepatitis is a condition that causes inflammation in your liver. Apart from a viral infection, other factors can cause Hepatitis. These include alcohol consumption, certain medication, toxins, and drugs. Hepatitis can also be an autoimmune condition. In this case, your body attacks the liver by making antibodies against liver tissues.

Hepatitis has five types which are A, B, C, D, and E. All of these types have different severity and effects based on who they infect. Infections that can cause A-E hepatitis are HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, and HEV. Hepatitis B and C are chronic conditions. You may not see the signs until after it affects your liver function. Hepatitis A and E are acute, short-term conditions. Whereas hepatitis D happens only after a hepatitis B infection. In the case of hepatitis A, D, and E, you may see signs shortly after infection. The symptoms of Hepatitis include: 

• Loss of appetite  
• Fatigue  
• Weight loss  
• Abdominal pain  
• Dark urine  
• Jaundice  
• Pale stool

The diagnosis of this condition includes:  

• Physical exam  
• Medical and family history  
• Liver function and other blood tests  
• Ultrasound and biopsy 

After diagnosis, the treatment will depend on the type of Hepatitis you have. For hepatitis A and E, you may not need any medication. In the case of hepatitis B, there is no specific treatment. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medicines along with regular health checkups. For hepatitis C, you will receive certain antiviral medicines. In the case of hepatitis D, you may get treatment as listed by WHO.  

The Theme of World Hepatitis Day 2022 

For World Hepatitis Day 2022, the theme is 'Bringing hepatitis care closer to you' [2]. This year, the aim is to spread awareness about the need to have simple and accessible healthcare. Making hepatitis treatment available in facilities other than hospitals would make it easier for people to get treatment at the right time. This would also further the goal of the global elimination of Hepatitis.

In 2021, the theme for International Hepatitis Day was 'Hepatitis Can't-Wait. The aim was an emphasis on the urgent need to act on Hepatitis. For Global Hepatitis Day in 2020, the theme was 'Hepatitis-free future.' The main goal was to prevent infections of hepatitis B in newborns and mothers.

Other Hepatitis Awareness Events 

Apart from World Hepatitis Day, there is also the World Hepatitis Summit. This year, World Hepatitis Summit was held from 7 to June 10. The theme focused on ways to eradicate Hepatitis in developing health systems. The summit was a platform to recognize the achievements and introduce new strategies to eliminate Hepatitis globally.

Armed with this information on World Hepatitis Day 2022, be sure to make your bid to prevent the spread. With World Hepatitis Day, you can also spread awareness about World Liver Day and World Immunization Day. This would help educate others about the effect of Hepatitis on the liver and the importance of vaccination against such conditions.

Apart from knowing and spreading awareness about World Hepatitis Day 2022, make sure that you take a right preventive measures. If you notice signs and symptoms of Hepatitis, contact a doctor immediately. This way, you can get the treatment at the right time and avoid any complications. Book an online appointment with top doctors on Bajaj Finserv Health. With their expert guidance, you can take better care of yourself. Moreover, you can book complete health or any other lab test on the platform and have sample pickup from home. On World Hepatitis Day 2022, pay attention to your well-being and take the right measures to stay healthy.