Today is World Hepatitis Day and the need to propagate this topic is pertinent.

According to research, a person dies every 30 seconds as a result of Hepatitis related illness and that is why we must encourage and hasten a variety of healthy actions against the virus.

This article aims to enlighten readers on the awareness of Hepatitis, the various types, how to treat it, and the reality of the disease.

Hepatitis according to Healthline is an inflammation of the liver caused by a variety of viral infections and other causes which include autoimmune hepatitis and this is brought on by drugs, alcohol, poisons, and other medications.

There are various types of Hepatitis and can be classified into five main viral categories. A different virus is responsible for each type of viral disease and they include Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.

Understanding each category of the disease can only aid one’s way out of avoiding it. Here is what you need to know about each category:

Hepatitis A

This is an infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV).  This kind is an acute, transient illness. It can be caused as a result of exposure to HAV in food or water.

Since the illness is a short-term illness, it may not require treatment but if symptoms cause discomfort, bed rest may be recommended.

Hepatitis B

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is usually a chronic, persistent problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 257 million people are living with chronic HBV worldwide.

Contact with HBV in body fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretions, or semen can cause the ailment.

Just like the A category, there is no specific treatment program for acute hepatitis B. However, you will need to take Trusted Source antiviral drugs if you have chronic HBV. It can be costly and may require several months of treatment.

Did you know hepatitis can lead to cancer? Keep Reading!

Hepatitis C

HCV is one of the most prevalent bloodborne viral diseases and often manifests as a chronic illness. The CDC estimates that 2.4 million Americans Source is coping with a chronic version of this infection right now. The cause is the same as category B.

HCV can be treated with antiviral drugs in both acute and chronic forms. A liver transplant may be an option for those who develop cirrhosis or other forms of liver disease as a result of chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis D

This is a rare form of category that only occurs in conjunction with hepatitis B infection, but a person cannot contract HDV without an existing B infection.

A major cause of HDV is contact with blood containing HDV. Pegylated interferon alpha is listed as an HDV treatment in the WHO Source. The adverse effects of this medicine, however, can be very bad. As a result, it is not advised for those who have autoimmune disorders, mental conditions, or liver damage from cirrhosis.

ALSO READ: 5 Healthy Habits For Your Kidney

Hepatitis E

The last category is the E category, which is a waterborne illness brought on by hepatitis E virus exposure (HEV). HEV is often brought on by swallowing feces that contaminate the water supply and is primarily seen in unhygienic places.

Exposure to HEV in food or water is the major cause of this class of diseases. HEV is not currently being treated with any particular medical treatments. The infection frequently disappears on its own since it is so acute.

Doctors will typically advise people with this infection to get adequate rest, drink plenty of fluids, get enough nutrients, and avoid alcohol. However, pregnant women who develop this infection require close monitoring and care.

Having explained these categories, their causes, and treatment, it is important to know the common symptoms of inflammation of the liver.

Common symptoms of infectious hepatitis include:

• Fatigue
• Dark urine
• Pale stool
• Loss of appetite
• abdominal pain
• Flu-like symptoms
• yellow skin and eyes, which may be signs of Jaundice
• unexplained weight loss

Take Away

WHO aims to achieve the elimination of the ailment by 2030. To get there, WHO calls on countries to achieve specific targets:

• Reduce new infections of categories B and C by 90%;
• Reduce hepatitis-related deaths from liver cirrhosis and cancer by 65%;
• Ensure that at least 90% of people with category B and C viruses are diagnosed; and
• At least 80% of those eligible receive appropriate treatment.

At the 2022 World Health Assembly, countries recommitted to eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. With these measures in place, if successful, the answer to the big question Is A Hepatitis-Free World Possible? will be YES.

In response to an alleged nurse attack on one of them, the Association of Resident Doctors at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, began a two-day warning strike on Tuesday.

The warning strike, according to the resident doctors, will start at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, and last until 7:59 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

The association's president, Dr. Nana Fayowole, general secretary, Dr. Anuforo Anthony, and public relations officer, Dr. Adelaja Olasubomi, all signed a press statement announcing their decision, which our reporter saw.

They claim that on June 16, a senior nurse in the hospital's Female Adult Orthopaedic Ward physically restrained, verbally harassed, and forced a female doctor—Dr. Oluwatosin Bello—while she was performing her duties.

“The female house officer had gone to the said ward with her team which comprised different cadres of doctors, to carry out a procedure on the only patient in the ward at that time.

“The team on arrival at 4:30 pm informed the nurse on duty.

“After obtaining the patient’s consent, they requested a trolley from the nurse who pointed the trolley to them and told them to get it.

“In order not to waste time because the team already got a call from children emergency to see a patient, the house officer willingly brought the trolley.

“After the procedure, the team discarded all sharps used. They wrapped the empty kit with the drape used and kept it on the lowest shelf of the trolley and wiped the topmost part of the trolley clean and moved the trolley away from the patient’s bedside.

“They were leaving the ward when the house officer was accosted that she should go and discard the waste. The house officer was the last to leave so the nurse went to block her way asking her to go and discard the waste and when she didn’t answer, the matron locked the gate with the padlock.

“As if that was not enough, she started shouting and rained a lot of insults on her to the extent that nurses from other wards came to plead with her to stop and open the gate but she declined.

“Despite several pleas, the nurse vowed never to let the doctor out no matter who comes from Abuja. We have the video evidence of this incident. It took the effort of many people to persuade the nurse to release the doctor.”

According to the association's leaders, an emergency general meeting was convened on June 17 at which it was resolved to launch a 48-hour warning strike.

Additionally, they requested that "The hospital management establish a fact-finding committee to investigate the event at FAOW and administer the proper disciplinary actions against anybody found to be at fault, failing which the house would reexamine the matter at the July 2022 OGM.

“The hospital management should come up with a document detailing the job description of all clinical staff within the next four weeks, failure of which the house will re-examine the situation at the July 2022 OGM. We believe this is in line with best global practice.”