Demystifying Hepatitis

What is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, caused by a virus. The condition is mostly acute but can progress to scarring, cirrhosis or liver cancer. (Cirrhosis is a slowly progressing disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, eventually preventing the liver from functioning properly).

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 five main Hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.

These five types are of great concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and rampant 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.

Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Statistics

• 400 million people are infected with Hepatitis worldwide
• Every year, 1.4 million people die from viral Hepatitis and yet all of these deaths could be prevented
• With better awareness and understanding of how we can prevent Hepatitis, we can eliminate this disease and save 4,000 lives a day

In Kenya, researchers at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) sounded an alarm in 2014 over the increasing number of Hepatitis B cases in Kenya. A study carried out in 2013 revealed that the rate of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the country is three times higher than that of HIV. About 1,200 blood donations out of 150,000 screened nationwide were found HIV-positive, compared with 3,000 that were HBV-positive.

Hepatitis A & E

Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by consumption of contaminated food or water. They are spread by poor food hygiene, unsafe water and lack of proper sanitation.

An estimated 20 Million people are infected with Hepatitis E and 1.4 Million with Hepatitis A every year.

Protect Yourself

1. Talk to your health care provider about the Hepatitis A vaccine
2. Cook food well and eat it while hot. Avoid raw shellfish and raw meat
3. ALWAYS wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, changing a baby’s nappy, before preparing food and before eating
4. Peel fruit and vegetables, wash salads in clean water
5. Only drink safe water

 

Hepatitis B, C and D

Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. Common modes of transmission include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and (for Hepatitis B) transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact.

More than 1 Million People Die each year from disease caused by Hepatitis B and C.

Protect Yourself

1. Talk to your health care provider about the Hepatitis B vaccine that is part of the Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunisation (KEPI) schedule and is administered at six, 10 and 14 weeks
2. NEVER share needles, razors or toothbrushes
3. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about how to prevent transmission to your baby
4. Use only sterilised tattoo and piercing instruments
5. Use condoms correctly and consistently
6. Where possible, choose oral medications instead of injections