World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on July 28 annually. The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
The day intends to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and the global effort to eliminate it. Hepatitis is the second major killer infectious disease after tuberculosis.
What is Hepatitis?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The condition can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis in the world but other infections, toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, certain drugs), and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D, and E. These 5 types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread. In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.
World Hepatitis Day 2020: Link between Hepatitis B and liver cancer, prevention
What is hepatic encephalopathy?
One of the major illnesses caused by Hepatitis is hepatic encephalopathy. Hepatic Encephalopathy, sometimes referred to as portosystemic encephalopathy or PSE, is a condition that causes temporary worsening of brain function in people with advanced liver disease. When your liver is damaged it can no longer remove toxic substances from your blood. These toxins build up and can travel through your body until they reach your brain, causing mental and physical symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy.
Symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy:
Symptoms and signs of moderate hepatic encephalopathy may include:
- difficulty thinking
- personality changes
- poor concentration
- problems with handwriting or loss of other small hand movements
- confusion
- forgetfulness
- poor judgment
- a musty or sweet breath odor
Symptoms of severe hepatic encephalopathy are:
- confusion
- drowsiness or lethargy
- anxiety
- seizures
- severe personality changes
- fatigue
- confused speech
- shaky hands
- slow movements
Causes of hepatic encephalopathy:
- infections such as pneumonia
- kidney problems
- dehydration
- hypoxia, or low oxygen levels
- recent surgery or trauma
- medications that suppress your immune system
- eating too much protein
- medications that suppress your central nervous system, such as barbiturates or benzodiazepine tranquilizers
- electrolyte imbalance, especially a decrease in potassium after vomiting or taking diuretics
World Hepatitis Day: Theme, history, significance of the day
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