THE LOWDOWN ON HEPATITIS

World Hepatitis Day is on 28 July, so let’s look at the facts about this disease and how you can protect yourself.

---

News about hepatitis is usually sudden and disturbing. The disease often hits in waves and can be deadly. The World Health Organization estimates that 354 million people live with chronic hepatitis B and C. Statistics show that South Africa is one of the most overburdened countries with about 4 million cases.

WHAT IS HEPATITIS
Your liver breaks down and filters poisons and harmful substances while helping the body to digest food and store energy. When a liver doesn’t work well, it’s bad for most of the body. Hepatitis causes inflammation in the liver, an organ so large and important that the entire body suffers when it isn’t working well. It can get better on its own, but some types become lifelong and can cause serious liver disease.

Alcohol can injure liver cells, which may lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Misuse of medication and exposure to toxins can also cause the disease.

EARLY SYMPTOMS OF HEPATITIS
Early symptoms seem much like flu: tiredness, weakness, no appetite, fever, nausea and vomiting. Clearer signals include stomach pain, dark urine, pale and loose stools and jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

Related article: Sick leave and your rights



TYPES OF HEPATITIS

Hepatitis A
Often comes in epidemics if the source is contaminated food or water. Bad sanitation, living or having sex with someone infected are also risk factors. Type A can spread among young children in daycare because many are in nappies and cannot wash their own hands. They usually don’t show symptoms, so prevention is difficult.

Hepatitis B
Often spread from mother to child at birth or through exposure to blood, especially in children under five. Other risks include shared needles (say, for body piercings), contact with infected body fluids and unprotected sex with more than one partner. It can become chronic. Babies get vaccinated against it.

Hepatitis C
Is also spread through blood. In Africa, about 9 million people have chronic Hepatitis C. Risk factors include unsterilised medical and shared drug equipment. It can also pass from mum to baby and through unsafe sex. It can’t spread through breast milk, food, water, hugs and kisses or sharing food or drinks. A new antiviral drug can cure most cases.

Hepatitis D
Is rare and you can only get it if you have type B already. Contaminated blood is the risk factor, but the type B immunisation will also prevent type D.

Hepatitis E
Moves in water, so the risk is getting in fecal matter through dirty water or poor sanitation. There is no specific treatment but you don’t stay sick long. Good hygiene and avoiding dirty water will help to protect you.

Related article: The proper way to keep hands clean and germ-free

PROTECTION AGAINST HEPATITIS
Play it safe by boiling water before drinking it or cooking with it. Put it on the stove and wait for a rolling boil, which means bubbles are rising quickly and constantly (after five to ten minutes). Let it boil for 3 minutes, cool for 30 minutes and refrigerate in clean bottles. If it tastes bland, add 1 teaspoon of salt per litre.

Cleaning raw fruit and veg is also important. Wash uncut under running water and dry with a paper towel or clean cloth. Trim off bruised or damaged spots and refrigerate within two hours after cutting or peeling. Don’t store them near raw meat.

If you travel to a part of the country or world where hepatitis is common, avoid the water, ice, shellfish and oysters.

Don’t share needles, syringes, razors and toothbrushes. Don’t touch spilled blood and clean it up carefully. You can get hepatitis swimming in infected water, even the ocean, if you swallow it. So stick to trusted water sources for swimming.

And have safe sex.

The WHO is on a mission to eradicate hepatitis. We can all help by taking precautions to stop the spread. Find out more about World Hepatitis Day and see what you can do.

Read about living with hepatitis B on the Hep B Foundation website.

Related article: Tuberculosis – beating a killer