World Day Against Hepatitis, 10 Years of Public Awareness

Known as an infection that affects more than 400 million people worldwide and causes 1.4 million deaths, hepatitis is preventable and treatable, thanks to effective vaccines and drugs that are released on World Against Hepatitis Day, which is commemorated on July 28th.

And it is estimated that only five percent of people with chronic hepatitis know that they have the infection and less than one percent of those affected have access to treatment. The importance of information from the population on this virus can be deadly, says the Pan American Health Organization.

The commemoration was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008 and the 28th was elected. July, in the honor of the discoverer of the hepatitis B virus, the American scientist Baruch Samuel Blumberg, Nobel laureate, born that day.

A decade after its creation, the World Day Against Hepatitis continues to publish information and this 2018 will focus on the subject "Tests .Hepatitis Treatment" with what is sought at the global, regional level and national: to support the expansion of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care services for hepatitis.

This year's goal is also to expose best practices and promote notes the WHO Internet portal, www.who.int .

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by one of five hepatitis viruses, called types A, B, C, D, and E, although there may be have bacterial and toxic hepatitis due to alcohol, poisons and drugs.

According to the Ministry of Health of the State of Mexico, hepatitis A and E are contracted due to consumption of water and / or contaminated food and most in time they produce no symptoms.

In the case of hepatitis B I c hepatotoxicity, consumption of water or food and new cases are avoided through universal vaccination, while type C is acquired contact with tainted blood, unprotected bad and syringes

It should be noted that most of those affected have no symptoms during the acute phase of the disease. Infection, although some people have yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

To prevent hepatitis, there is a type B vaccine that the WHO recommends to administer to all infants as soon as possible after birth, preferably within the first 24 hours. hours

SA