HEPATITIS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Guess what the role of the liver in the human body is?

Your liver helps your body digest food, store energy and removes poisons.

What Is HEPATITIS?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection which causes scarring of the liver (Liver Cirrhosis) or Liver Cancer.

The five main hepatitis viruses are, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. Besides these Hepatitis is also caused by consumption of alcohol and drugs.

You can help prevent some viral forms of Hepatitis by getting a vaccine. Sometimes hepatitis goes away by itself and if it does not, it can be treated with drugs. But sometimes hepatitis lasts a lifetime.

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 contact with infected body fluids. Common modes of transmission for these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for hepatitis B transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact.

Types B and C in particular can lead to chronic disease and, together, are the most common causes of liver cirrhosis and cancer.

Signs 

A physical examination may show an enlarged and tender liver, fluid in the abdomen and yellowing of skin.

Symptoms

Some people exhibit no symptoms while some others may have loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, general itching, dark colored urine, stomach pain, development of breasts in males and/or yellowing of skin and eyes.

Tests

Doctors may prescribe one or a combination of the tests mentioned below to ascertain and treat the viral infection.

·         Abdominal Ultrasound

·         Auto immune blood markers

·         Hepatitis Virus Serology

·         Liver Function Test

·         Liver Biopsy(to check liver damage)

·         And/or Paracentesis (if he/she suspects fluid collection in your abdomen)

You can protect yourself against hepatitis B by being vaccinated. The vaccine is 95% effective in preventing chronic infections. Protection lasts for at least 20 years at least and no booster is recommended by WHO as of today.