World Hepatitis Day 2024: Coming Together to Fight Against Hepatitis

 we commemorate World Hepatitis Day, a global initiative to intensify efforts against hepatitis and highlight the urgent need for action. This date honours Dr. Baruch Blumberg, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed its diagnostic test and vaccine. With the theme "It's time to act," World Hepatitis Day 2024, aims to address the critical gaps in testing and treatment, as outlined in the WHO's Global Hepatitis Report of 2017. This year's campaign urges individuals, partners, and the public to engage in the fight against hepatitis, striving for the global elimination of the disease by 2030.

In this context of World Hepatitis Day, renowned Dr. Srinivasa Reddy Golamari, MBBS, MD (Internal Med-Manipal), DM (Hepatology-ILBS, New Delhi), Fellow in Liver ICU & Transplant- King’s Hospital, UK)

Dr . Srinivas Reddy Golamari 
Consultant-Clinical & Transplant Hepatology 
Star hospital Nanakramguda Hyderabad

Consultant -Clinical & Transplant Hepatology shares valuable insight in spreading awareness on World Hepatitis Day.

Q1: What is Hepatitis and its types and causes?
Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver. Inflammation is swelling that happens when tissues of the body are injured or infected. It is part of the biological response due to liver damage caused by infection or injury. This inflammation can affect how well the liver functions.
Types of hepatitis, with different causes:
 Viral hepatitis is the most common type. It is caused by one of several viruses -- hepatitis
viruses A, B, C, D, and E.
 Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by heavy alcohol use.
 Toxic hepatitis can be caused by certain poisons, chemicals, medicines, or supplements
 Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic type in which the body's own immune system attacks the liver. The exact cause is not known, but genetics and environmental factors may play a role.
Q2: What is Viral Hepatitis, its types, risk factors, and modes of transmission? How common is it in India?
Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation caused by hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, E, spread through contaminated food, water, and body fluids, with significant prevalence in India.
Q3: What is Alcoholic Hepatitis and its risk factors?
Alcoholic hepatitis is liver inflammation due to prolonged heavy alcohol use, with risk factors including gender, obesity, genetics, race, binge drinking, and malnutrition.
Q4: What are the Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis?

Symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice (yellowing of your skin and eyes).
Q5: What are the risk factors of Viral Hepatitis?
Risk factors include unsafe water, lack of sanitation, needle sharing, unsafe sex, chemical exposure, heavy alcohol use, certain medications, lack of vaccination, and maternal transmission.
Q6: How is Hepatitis Diagnosed?
Diagnosis involves history and physical examination, blood tests (LFTs), imaging (sonography, CT, MRI), and liver biopsy.
Q7: What is the Treatment of Hepatitis?
Treatment depends on the type and stage, with acute cases managed symptomatically and chronic cases requiring antiviral drugs or lifestyle changes like quitting alcohol. The chronic stage of hepatitis has some specific treatments.
Hepatitis A and E: Usually are self-limiting. No specific treatment is required other than Symptomatic treatment for dehydration or vomiting by adequate rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and intake of enough nutrients.
Hepatitis B and C: Chronic stage requires treatment with Direct-acting antiviral drugs.
Alcoholic Hepatitis: Treatment for alcoholic hepatitis involves quitting drinking and therapies to
ease the signs and symptoms of liver damage.
Q8: What are the Complications of Hepatitis?
Complications include fibrosis, cirrhosis, chronic liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure, and osteoporosis (especially with hepatitis B).
Q9: What are the preventive measures for Hepatitis?
Preventive measures include vaccination, good hygiene, safe food and water practices, safe sex, avoiding contaminated needles, and moderate or no alcohol consumption.
Q10: What is compensated and decompensated Liver Cirrhosis?
Compensated cirrhosis is early-stage with minimal symptoms, while decompensated cirrhosis is advanced with severe symptoms and significant liver dysfunction.
Q11: What happens if hepatitis B is not treated well?
Untreated chronic hepatitis B can lead to liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer, and potentially death.
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