Hepatitis from A to D: Being informed can make a difference!

Hepatitis B and C cause 1.4 million deaths a year. Together they are responsible for 2 out of 3 liver cancer deaths worldwide. It is your responsibility to inform yourself and spread the word to stop it!

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, commonly caused by a viral infection. There are five main hepatitis viruses, called types A, B, C, D, and E. These five types are the most concerning because of the burden of disease, the deaths they cause, and the potential for outbreaks and spread of epidemics they possess.

World Hepatitis Day is celebrated every July 28 and is the annual event to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, unite as a community to demand actions that help us prioritize the elimination of this disease. At TuSaludIntima we want you to have the necessary information to take action on time.

The 2021 global campaign, titled: “ Hepatitis Cannot Wait” highlights the need to accelerate hepatitis elimination efforts, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with this, also highlighting the lack of action on the elimination of hepatitis and the need to focus the positive action necessary to move towards the fulfillment of the elimination goals for the year 2030.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO LOWER THESE FIGURES?

1. Sensitize those around us about viral hepatitis.
2. Communicate to everyone the urgent need to act now against hepatitis.
3. Reveal the consequences of inaction on viral hepatitis.
4. Raise the voice of affected people and communities.
5. Require decision makers to get active and act to eliminate hepatitis.

WHAT MAKES VIRAL HEPATITIS A GLOBAL HEALTH PROBLEM?

1. Chronic hepatitis B and C are life-threatening infectious diseases that cause severe liver damage, cancer, and premature death. More than 300 million people are living with the hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis C virus.
   
   
2. Hepatitis B and C are silent epidemics that most affect children and low-income populations, which include people who inject drugs, indigenous peoples, prisoners or prisoners, men who have sex with men, migrants and people living with HIV/AIDS.
   
   
3. It's silent : Globally, 90% of people living with hepatitis B and 80% of people living with hepatitis C are unaware they are living with the disease , raising the real possibility of developing fatal liver disease or liver cancer. liver at some point in their lives and, in some cases, unknowingly transmit the infection to others.

With the availability of effective vaccines and treatments for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C, elimination of viral hepatitis is achievable, but greater awareness and understanding of the disease and risks is imperative, as is access to cheaper diagnoses and treatments.

In 2015, viral hepatitis was included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in 2016 the world's first global hepatitis strategy to eliminate the disease was endorsed.

KNOW THE DIFFERENCES OF HEPATITIS B, C and D

HEPATITIS B

Transmission: Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person. For example, it can be passed from mother to child during childbirth, by sharing razors or toothbrushes, by having unprotected sex, and by sharing needles and syringes to inject drugs.

Prevention: Vaccination against hepatitis B is very effective in preventing infection. If you have not been vaccinated, it is best to use condoms and avoid sharing needles or items such as toothbrushes, razors, or nail clippers with an infected person to reduce the chances of exposure.

You should also avoid getting tattoos or body piercing at unlicensed facilities. If you think you are likely to be exposed in the future, vaccination is strongly recommended.

Children born to mothers with hepatitis B should be vaccinated within 12 hours of birth, as this can prevent an infection that is likely to progress to chronic hepatitis B.

Treatment – ​​Although there is currently no real cure for hepatitis B, a variety of antiviral drugs are available that slow the replication of the virus and occasionally cause its elimination. More importantly, they greatly reduce the risk of the complications that hepatitis B can cause, such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

HEPATITIS C

Transmission: Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. The most common modes of infection include unsafe injection practices, improper sterilization of medical equipment, and untested blood and blood products.

It can also be transmitted through certain sexual practices in which blood is involved.

It is not clear if it can be transmitted sexually without the presence of blood. If it does occur, it appears to be extremely rare, although the risk may be increased by the presence of other sexually transmitted infections.

Prevention: There is currently no vaccination against hepatitis C. To reduce the risk of exposure, it is necessary to avoid sharing needles and other items such as toothbrushes, razors, or nail clippers with an infected person. You should also avoid getting tattoos or body piercing at unlicensed facilities.

Treatment: Treatment can cure hepatitis C infection. More powerful direct-acting antiviral drugs are being used more and more.

HEPATITIS D

Transmission: Hepatitis D is transmitted through contact with infected blood.

Prevention : Hepatitis D only occurs in people who are already infected with the hepatitis B virus. Therefore, people who are not yet infected with hepatitis B can prevent hepatitis D infection by getting vaccinated against hepatitis B. Avoid sharing needles and other items such as toothbrushes, razors, or nail clippers with an infected person. You should also avoid getting tattoos or body piercing at unlicensed facilities.

Treatment: There are few specific treatments for hepatitis D, although different regimens should be tried. Treatment also focuses on supportive care.

HEPATITIS E

Transmission: Like hepatitis A, hepatitis E is mainly transmitted by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Outbreaks usually occur when there is a lack of safe drinking water and poor sanitation.

Prevention: There is currently a vaccine to prevent hepatitis E, but it is not widely available. Reduce the risk of exposure to hepatitis E by practicing good hygiene and sanitation and by avoiding drinking water from a potentially unsafe source.

Treatment: There is no treatment for hepatitis E, but people usually recover on their own. However, it can be fatal in some cases.

Here we leave you the video of the campaign so that you can share it on your social networks and be sure to use them in favor of this public health cause.

Tag the official campaign accounts: @worldhepatitisalliance on Facebook, @hep_alliance on Twitter, using the hashtag #WorldHepatitisDay . And of course, don't forget to mention @TuSaludIntima.

At #TuSaludIntima we continue to focus on our purpose of creating products for women's health care and sexual well-being and that is why we want to better inform you about those aspects that allow you to improve your health and sexuality, because that is our goal.

Visit our online store TuSaludIntima to learn more about Zenzsual feminine care products. On our social networks we keep sharing useful tips and join #TeamZenzsual to share this information with your friends, leave us your doubts and comments.

FOUNTAIN:

• Dr. Klara Senior @doctoraklarasenior - Founder of Zenzsual
• Dr. Sofía Herrera @tu_ginecologa - Founder of Zenzsual
• worldhepatitisalliance.org