It can affect any individual of any age including children.
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‘Though there is no vaccination for it, it can be cured in most patients with newer oral drugs. Despite a death toll as high as HIV/AIDS, few countries have taken comprehensive actions to control viral hepatitis.
Worldwide, 400 million people are living with hepatitis B or C and approximately 80,000 British Columbians. The importance of getting tested is one of the key points World Hepatitis Day is trying to make.
“Many Australians living with hepatitis B and C would like nothing more than to act and start treatment, but many have excessive waits for liver clinic appointments and the new generation of hepatitis C medicines remain out of reach”, she says. The World Health Organisation has called the HCV a “viral time bomb”, which signifies that the policy makers must pay the required attention towards this health issue.
Hepatitis C is transmitted when the blood of someone carrying the virus gets into the bloodstream of an uninfected person.
A baby could get hepatitis A by consuming food/water contaminated with HAV-infected stool.
The Department (Department of Infection and Immunity) is working closely with the National Service of Infectious Diseases and gastroenterologists in different hospitals in the country to follow patients infected with hepatitis C.
Viral hepatitis is a group of diseases caused by five distinct hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D and E, which vary from each other in terms of transmission, disease profile, duration and impact. Infants may contract hepatitis B if they are born to a mother who has the virus. When symptoms do appear, they often are a sign of advanced liver disease. Common symptoms may include fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, jaundice, etc. Hepatitis C is transmitted through direct contact with human blood and other body fluids.
In adults, it can also be acquired through sexual contact with an infected person or through intravenous drug use. Usually many people do not know how or when they get infected. While there is no vaccine for hepatitis C yet, early diagnosis and treatment can prevent chronic liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer and reduce the risk of death. HCV is also considered to be the leading cause for liver transplantation in adults. “Over time, chronic Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver problems including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer”. But it can be prevented with the help of an effective vaccine.
India has a case reporting system for acute HAV and HEV through IDSP but not for HBV and HCV.
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WHO recommends vaccinating all children against hepatitis B infection. In addition, a birth dose is recommended for all newborns (within 24 hour of delivery) for all institutional deliveries. About 20 people out of the 75 people who have chronic hepatitis C will become very ill or sick. This is especially true for those at higher risk like healthcare workers, those needing frequent blood transfusions or dialysis.
