HEPATITIS

The 28th of August is internationally recognized as World Hepatitis day.  In commemoration of the day and its activities, here's a brief introduction to the Hepatitis virus and a highlight of some of the key messages the World Health Organization will share on the day. 

Hepatitis is a condition characteristic of inflammation of the liver. The condition can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis in the world however other infections, toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, certain drugs), and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis.

There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These 5 types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread.  Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of intramuscular/intravenal (parenteral) contact with infected body fluids. Types B and C have the highest burden of illness and death as they lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer. Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

 Transmission

 Common modes of transmission for these viruses include:

·         receipt of contaminated blood or blood products

·         invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and

·         transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact (Hepatitis B)

Treatment

Getting vaccinated is the best way of preventing hepatitis B infection. More than one billion doses of the hepatitis B vaccine have been used since the early 1980s and it has been shown to be effective in approximately 95% of cases. There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C.

Key messages for world Hepatitis day 2017

Viral hepatitis is a major global health problem and needs an urgent response.

There were approximately 325 million people living with chronic hepatitis at the end of 2015.

Globally, an estimated 257 million people were living with hepatitis B (HBV) infection, and 71 million people were living with hepatitis C (HCV) infection in 2015.

Very few of those infected accessed testing and treatment, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

By the end of 2015, only 9% of HBV-infected people and 20% of HCV-infected people had been tested and diagnosed. Of those diagnosed with HBV infection, 8% (or 1.7 million people) were on treatment, while 7% of those diagnosed with HCV infection (or 1.1 million people) had started treatment in 2015.

Viral hepatitis caused 1.34 million deaths in 2015 - comparable with TB deaths and exceeding deaths from HIV. Hepatitis deaths are increasing.

New hepatitis infections continue to occur, mostly hepatitis C.

The number of children under five living with chronic HBV infection was reduced to 1.3% in 2015 (from 4.7% before vaccines were introduced).

Hepatitis B vaccine is preventing approximately 4.5 million infections per year in children.

However, 1.75 million adults were newly infected with HCV in 2015, largely due to injecting drug use and due to unsafe injections in health care settings in certain countries.

Achieving the 2030 elimination goal is not overly ambitious

WHO's Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis aims to test 90% and treat 80% of people with HBV and HCV by 2030. WHO will share progress reports from 28 countries tackling HBV and HCV as evidence to this.