Sunday, December 5, 2010

Getting more about hepatitis

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver and can be caused by many things. One cause of hepatitis is the most common chronic viral infection. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus
The two viruses together have been reported killed about 1 million people a year worldwide, nearly 500 million people are currently infected with chronic hepatitis B or C, and 1 in 3 people have been exposed to one or both viruses. Unlike hepatitis C, hepatitis B can be prevented by effective vaccination.
Hepatitis B is a liver infection that could potentially life-threatening and is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV).
This disease is a major health problem worldwide and the most serious type of viral hepatitis, which is about two times more than hepatitis C. Patients who become chronically infected with HBV are at higher risk to experience liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.


Four main ways of transmission of HBV was sexual contact, parenteral transmission from mother to baby at birth (through the skin or through a vein), and through infected body fluids.
Around the world, about 2 billion people are estimated to have been infected with hepatitis B virus and more than 350 million have become chronic liver infection.
A vaccine against hepatitis B has been available since 1982, has been given to nearly all infants, and incorporated into national immunization programs in many countries, including Indonesia. Hepatitis B vaccine reached 95 percent effectiveness rate in preventing chronic HBV infection that is considered as the first vaccine against cancer.
Hepatitis B immunization series consists of three primary doses of vaccine with the first dose given as soon as possible after birth.
Until the end of 2009, 46 countries in Europe have implemented universal hepatitis B immunization in 29 countries implementing universal immunization of newborns, 15 countries implemented immunization of infants at age 2-3 months, 3 countries apply to children and adolescents, as well as 6 countries implement vaccination for adults at high risk because of sexual behavior and injecting drug users.


Chronic and acute
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of acute hepatitis and chronic liver disease.
Globally, an estimated 130-170 million people are chronically infected with HCV and 3-4 million are newly infected each year. HCV is mainly transmitted through direct contact with human blood and is mainly transmitted parenterally, and vertically from mother to child.
The main cause of HCV infection worldwide are use of unscreened blood transfusions without tight, re-use of needles or syringes are not sterilized adequately.
Sharing needles, syringes and medical equipment by injecting drug users is a significant contribution of infection, especially in Europe.
Chronic hepatitis C causes a higher risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. There is currently no vaccine against HCV is available.
Some effective preventive measures, including screening, blood tests, and more stringent donor organ, the use of blood plasma products are tightened, better infection control and safe injection practices in patient care in hospitals.


Campaign
In 2008, the World Hepatitis Alliance launched a global awareness campaign with the theme of the program "I Am No 12".
This campaign has a simple message and is designed to communicate the fact that one in 12 people worldwide living with viral hepatitis B or C. Thus, the prevalence of hepatitis are much higher than HIV or any cancer.
It is also intended to encourage people to question ourselves, whether he was one of 12 people affected. With this self-questioning, not by denouncing others who seem, in general will be more effective and, if the symptoms fit, is expected to soon undergo a medical examination voluntarily.
The campaign has been a great success and at the 2010 World Hepatitis Alliance launched a new campaign theme, "This is hepatitis ...". This campaign for the first time reveal the story of the actual spread of hepatitis virus and actually delivered by the person closest to the people affected by the disease.
Campaign initiative is led entirely by the hepatitis patients themselves which aims to increase public awareness of the dangers of hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Long-term goal of this campaign is to prevent new infections and to improve the quality of life for patients who are forced to live with hepatitis B and C.
With World Hepatitis Day this year, everyone expected the knowledge of the dangers and prevention of hepatitis can be improved. People with chronic hepatitis may still be able to fill out and enjoy his days filled with many limitations despite

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