World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28 every year, aims to raise global awareness ofhepatitis — a group of infectious diseases known as Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E — and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Hepatitis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic disease and killing close to 1.4 million people every year.[1]
World Hepatitis Day is one of eight officialglobal public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day,World Malaria Day and World AIDS Day.
Hepatitis is a disease of the liver characterized by the presence ofinflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. Hepatitis may occur without symptoms, but can lead to jaundice (a yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, andconjunctiva of the eyes), poor appetite, andfatigue. Depending on the cause, hepatitis can manifest either as an acute or as a chronic disease.[1] Acute hepatitis can beself-limiting (resolving on its own), can progress to chronic hepatitis, or can causeacute liver failure in rare instances.[2]Chronic hepatitis may have no symptoms, or may progress over time to fibrosis (scarring of the liver) and cirrhosis (chronic liver failure).[3] Cirrhosis of the liver increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma(a form of liver cancer).[4]
Worldwide, viral hepatitis is the most common cause, followed closely by alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD).[5][6][7] Other less common causes of hepatitis includeautoimmune diseases, ingestion of toxic substances, certain medications (such asparacetamol), some industrial organic solvents, and plants.
As Social Workers, we must initiate programmes for prevention and awareness among the community members.
