5 preventive measures against chronic hepatitis
Dr. Wala’a Hafez: At a time when eradicating many infectious diseases has become an attainable goal, chronic hepatitis B and C still pose a global health challenge, affecting millions of people despite the availability of an effective vaccine against hepatitis B and curative treatments for most cases of hepatitis C. Coinciding with World Hepatitis Day, which this year carries the theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Simplify It,” the call is renewed to remove barriers to testing, diagnosis, and treatment, and to end the stigma associated with the disease.
Latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that approximately 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C in 2024, while the disease caused 1.3 million deaths that same year, mostly due to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer—deaths that are largely preventable through early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Furthermore, only 45% of newborns worldwide received the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within the first 24 hours of birth, despite its critical importance in preventing mother-to-child transmission.
**A Silent Disease**
The liver plays a vital role in filtering toxins from the blood, producing proteins, storing nutrients, and aiding digestion. When it becomes inflamed, these functions are disrupted, potentially leading to serious or even life-threatening complications. Doctors refer to chronic hepatitis as a “silent disease” because patients may remain asymptomatic for years while the virus causes chronic inflammation that gradually leads to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.
According to FirstPost, Dr. Malikarjun Sakpal, Senior Consultant in Hepatology and Liver Transplantation at KIMS Hospitals in India, states: “One of the biggest challenges regarding hepatitis is that its early symptoms are often vague and can be mistaken for common viral illnesses or simple fatigue.” He adds that recognizing these early warning signs is crucial for timely diagnosis and achieving better treatment outcomes.
When symptoms do appear, they may include:
• Chronic fatigue.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea.
• Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen.
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
• Dark urine.
However, many patients do not discover their infection until a routine check-up or when advanced complications arise. Although both viruses B and C affect the liver, prevention and treatment methods differ significantly. The key differences are outlined below:
**Hepatitis B** is transmitted through blood and body fluids, from mother to child during childbirth, or through sharing needles and contaminated instruments. The hepatitis B vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines, providing long-term protection, and is recommended for all children, as well as high-risk groups. Patients with chronic hepatitis B may require antiviral medications to reduce viral activity and protect the liver from damage, although treatment does not completely eliminate the virus in most cases.
**Hepatitis C** is primarily transmitted through contaminated blood, and there is currently no vaccine to prevent it. However, medical advances over the past decade have completely changed the outlook for the disease. Direct-acting antiviral drugs can now achieve cure rates exceeding 95% in most patients during a short treatment period, typically lasting between 8 and 12 weeks.
**Who is at Higher Risk?**
The WHO recommends testing for individuals at higher risk of infection, including:
1. Those who received blood transfusions during periods when modern screening tests were not available.
2. Individuals who share needles.
3. Healthcare workers.
4. Patients undergoing dialysis.
5. Babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis B.
6. Individuals with risk factors for exposure to contaminated blood.
**Early Diagnosis Saves Lives**
Dr. Malikarjun Sakpal and other experts emphasize that a simple blood test can be a decisive step in early detection, improving treatment chances and saving lives. Diagnostic methods include:
• Viral detection tests.
• Viral load measurement.
• Liver function assessment.
• Assessment of fibrosis severity using tools such as FibroScan, when necessary.
Dr. Sakpal stresses that early diagnosis helps initiate treatment before permanent liver damage occurs.
**The Most Dangerous Complications**
Dr. Sakpal emphasizes that if the disease is left untreated or unmonitored, it may lead to:
• Liver cirrhosis.
• Liver failure.
• Liver cancer.
• The need for a liver transplant in advanced cases.
Consequently, the WHO confirms that expanding screening and treatment programs is one of the most important means of reducing disease-related mortality.
**How Can We Protect Ourselves?**
Dr. Malikarjun Sakpal and other doctors stress the importance of following a set of preventive measures, the most prominent of which are:
1. Getting vaccinated against hepatitis B.
2. Avoiding the sharing of needles or sharp instruments.
3. Ensuring the sterilization of medical tools, as well as barber and tattooing equipment.
4. Screening pregnant women for hepatitis B to prevent transmission to the newborn.
5. Undergoing testing when risk factors are present, even in the absence of symptoms.
**Message of World Hepatitis Day**
This year’s theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Simplify It,” focuses on removing barriers that prevent people from accessing healthcare, whether these are lack of awareness, social stigma, or limited opportunities for testing and treatment. The WHO confirms that the world currently possesses the necessary tools to curb viral hepatitis, but success requires expanding vaccination programs, increasing testing rates, and ensuring patients receive timely treatment.
