World Hepatitis Day 2020

World Hepatitis Day 2020 | UPSC

HEADLINES:

Dr. Harsh Vardhan participates in 2nd Empathy e-Conclave on “World Hepatitis Day” for creating awareness among parliamentarians

WHY IN NEWS:

Hot from PIB !

MINISTRY? :-Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Health:Diseases

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS it is important to go through the theme and the initiative .

For MAINS go through the symptoms and treatment . That should suffice your preparation . Let us dive in !

ISSUE:

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that causes a range of health problems, including liver cancer.

WORLD HEPATITIS DAY

AIM

World Hepatitis Day is commemorated each year on 28 July to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis.

THEME

This year’s theme is “Hepatitis-free future-WHO,” with a strong focus on preventing hepatitis B among mothers and newborns.

The theme of this year’s conclave is-

Keep your Liver Safe in COVID times.

World Hepatitis Day 2020 UPSC IASbhai

DIFFERENT STRAINS OF HEPATITIS

There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E.

Together, hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of deaths, with 1.3 million lives lost each year.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, viral hepatitis continues to claim thousands of lives every day.

EVENT

WHO goals of elimination of Hepatitis C and of reducing the burden of Hepatitis B are by 2030.

The event was organised by Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in collaboration with Airport Authority of India (AAI) for creating awareness .

HEPATITIS

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can cause a range of health problems and can be fatal.
While they all cause liver disease.
The strains differ in important ways including modes of transmission, severity of the illness and geographical distribution.

In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people.

Together they the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths.
An estimated 325 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B and/or C.

Some types of hepatitis are preventable through vaccination.

SYSMPTOMS

Many people with hepatitis A, B, C, D or E exhibit only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

Each form of the virus, however, can cause more severe symptoms.
Symptoms of hepatitis A, B and C may include fever, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark-coloured urine and jaundice.

TREATMENT

Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Chronic hepatitis B infection can be treated with antiviral agents.
Treatment can slow the progression of cirrhosis, reduce incidence of liver cancer and improve long term survival.

A vaccine also exists to prevent infections of hepatitis E (HEV), although it is not currently widely available.

IASbhai WINDUP:

While the mortality due to COVID-19 is approximately 2 to 3 % and most cases are largely asymptomatic cases.
It is important to create awareness about the higher risk of both morbidity and mortality faced by people with co-morbidities like diabetes, obesity and fatty liver, chronic liver diseases.

WHO Member States, aims to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% between 2016 and 2030.

SUGGESTED READING : https://www.who.int/health-topics/hepatitis#tab=tab_2

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | World Hepatitis Day 2020 | UPSC

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