With less than 5% of people who are infected with the hepatitis virus aware that they are infected, here we round up ten facts about hepatitis to help keep you informed.
- Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis in the world but other infections, substances such as alcohol and certain drugs, and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis.
- There are 5 main types of hepatitis viruses, identified by the letters A, B, C, D, and E. They can all cause liver disease, however, they can be transmitted in different ways.
- 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.
- Hepatitis B and C are most commonly spread through unprotected sex, drug injection, and unsafe medical practices.
- The symptoms of Hepatitis B and C may not show for a long period of time, sometimes years or decades, with at least 60% of liver cancer cases due to the late testing and treatment of viral hepatitis B and C.
- Symptoms for those with acute hepatitis B may last several weeks if they do appear, and include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
- Following initial infection of hepatitis C, approximately 80% of people do not exhibit any symptoms. Those who do show symptoms may exhibit fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, grey-coloured faeces, joint pain and jaundice.
- An estimated 257 million people are living with hepatitis B virus infection, and in 2015, hepatitis B resulted in 887,000 deaths. An estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C infection, with approximately 399,000 people dying each year from the condition.
- There is a vaccine for hepatitis B which is 95% effective in preventing infection and the development of chronic disease and liver cancer.
- Although there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, antiviral medicines can cure more than 95% of those infected within two to three months, reducing the risk of death from liver cancer and cirrhosis. However, hepatitis C does not always require treatment as the immune response in some people will clear the infection, and some people with chronic infection do not develop liver damage.