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Every year on 28 July, the world unites for World Hepatitis Day—an occasion as much about hope as it is about health. This date celebrates the birth of Dr Baruch Blumberg, whose discovery of the hepatitis B virus and its vaccine changed millions of lives. This year, as always, the spotlight falls on both prevention and actionable liver care.
Viral hepatitis affects more than 350 million people globally. And yet, for many, the symptoms remain hidden until damage is severe. Hepatitis is not just a disease—it’s a challenge millions face quietly. This World Hepatitis Day, let’s talk openly and proactively about breaking the silence and safeguarding our futures.
Synopsis
- This Year’s Theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”
- Understanding Hepatitis: More Than One Disease
- Could You Have Hepatitis? Spotting the Warning Signs
- Why World Hepatitis Day Is Critical
- Your Liver: What It Needs Daily
- Why Hepatitis Deserves Your Attention
- Hepatitis and Cancer: A Link to Know
- Conclusion
This Year’s Theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”
In 2025, the message is clear: it’s time to break down the obstacles—fear, stigma, costs, and system gaps—that keep people from accessing hepatitis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The campaign calls for communities to demand and for health systems to deliver vaccination, swift testing, modern therapies, and true inclusion for all.
Understanding Hepatitis: More Than One Disease
It is noteworthy that “hepatitis” comes in several types. Here’s a quick look:
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Hepatitis A- Spreads mainly through contaminated food or water. A vaccine is available. It causes a short-term (acute) infection and rarely leads to chronic illness.
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Hepatitis B- Transmitted via blood, sexual contact, or childbirth. Effective vaccination exists. It can cause both acute and chronic infections.
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Hepatitis C- Spreads through infected blood, such as unsafe transfusions or injections. No vaccine is available. It can be acute, but it often becomes chronic.
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Hepatitis D- Only infects people with hepatitis B. There’s no direct vaccine, but hepatitis B vaccination prevents it. It typically causes chronic infection when present.
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Hepatitis E- Contracted from contaminated water, mostly in areas with poor sanitation. Vaccines exist, but are limited. It usually causes acute illness.
In India and many other countries, B and C dominate the chronic disease landscape, often with few initial signs.
More Reads: Symptoms and Treatment of Alcohol-Related Liver Damage
Could You Have Hepatitis? Spotting the Warning Signs
Many people live with viral hepatitis without realising it. Be alert to:
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Persistent tiredness or weakness
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Jaundice (yellow cast to eyes or skin)
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Nausea, poor appetite, or weight loss
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Pain or swelling near your liver (upper right abdomen)
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Dark-coloured urine or very pale stool
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Ongoing stomach issues
If you notice these or simply feel “off,” don’t delay–early detection is key.
Why World Hepatitis Day Is Critical
Hepatitis is a silent epidemic. Every 30 seconds, someone somewhere dies from a hepatitis-related illness. India alone is home to nearly 40 million people with hepatitis B and at least 6 million with hepatitis C. Most don’t know it. World Hepatitis Day is about amplifying voices, urging action, and stopping these quiet losses.
Protecting Your Liver: Five Practical Essentials
1. Get Vaccinated and Encourage Others
Vaccines for hepatitis A and B are safe and work well. Ensure newborns get the hepatitis B shot. High-risk adults and travellers should also consult their doctor.
2. Make Cleanliness a Habit
Drink only treated water. Wash your hands before meals and after using the bathroom. Think twice before eating street food if hygiene isn’t clear.
3. Never Share Items That Draw Blood
Razors, toothbrushes, or nail scissors shouldn’t be shared. Even small amounts of blood can carry trouble.
4. Get Screened—Know Your Numbers
Anyone with risk factors (history of transfusion, healthcare workers, family history, past unsafe sex, or drug use) should talk to their doctor about hepatitis B and C testing. Pregnant women deserve screening, too.
5. Practise Safe Healthcare and Safe Sex
Opt for sterile, single-use medical equipment. Always choose certified blood banks. Use condoms to help prevent transmission.
More Reads: Managing Fatty Liver Disease in Young Adults: 5 Best Tips
Your Liver: What It Needs Daily
Even in those without hepatitis, the liver steadily filters toxins, aids digestion, and stores energy. Here’s how to care for it every day:
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Eat smart: Load up on leafy greens, citrus, whole grains, turmeric, and pulses.
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Avoid excess: Too much fried food, sweets, caffeine, and alcohol burdens your liver.
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Move more: Exercise helps keep your liver—and the rest of you—healthy.
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Be careful with medicines: Never self-medicate. Many modern and herbal drugs can stress your liver.
Why Hepatitis Deserves Your Attention
Vaccines and treatments exist, yet viral hepatitis continues to quietly devastate families, partly due to ignorance and partly due to barriers that World Hepatitis Day hopes to break. By protecting yourself and your loved ones through screening, healthy living, and vaccines, you help everyone move closer to a world free of hepatitis.
Hepatitis and Cancer: A Link to Know
Long-term hepatitis B and C can quietly scar the liver (cirrhosis) and dramatically raise the risk of liver cancer. Curing or controlling hepatitis is one of the most effective routes to lowering this risk.
Conclusion
When to Get Help
Listen to your body—if anything’s unusual, book a check with a hepatologist, or seek trusted advice and diagnosis. Our gastroenterologist in Ghaziabad is here, offering both expert testing and treatment in a supportive environment.
Your liver might be the quietest organ in your body, but it works around the clock to keep you well. This World Hepatitis Day, make your health a priority: stay aware, get tested, trust vaccines, and encourage friends and family to do the same.
If you need tailored advice or want to take control of your liver health, reach out to Manipal Hospitals, Ghaziabad, for a consultation. Early action isn’t just life-saving—it’s life-changing.
FAQ's
Some types, like hepatitis C, can be cured with today's antiviral medications. Hepatitis B can be managed in the long term, but it is not yet curable. Hepatitis A and E generally resolve on their own with time and don’t require specific antivirals.
Those at risk include healthcare workers, people with multiple sexual partners, past recipients of blood transfusions (especially before 2002), IV drug users, residents in places with poor sanitation, and newborns of infected mothers.
Through blood tests—liver function and tests for virus markers (like HBsAg for B, Anti-HCV for C). Imaging or even a biopsy might be suggested for chronic cases.
Yes. Chronic hepatitis B and C can lead to cirrhosis, which greatly increases the chance of developing liver cancer.
Acute hepatitis lasts under six months and often clears up. Chronic hepatitis hangs on longer and needs regular medical care to avoid long-term damage.
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