Hepatitis kills more people than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined, warns WHO

Friday September 1, 2023

Liver health benefits organs that depend on the liver to function, such as the heart and brain.

The World Health Organization calls for testing and treatment of viral hepatitis, which could kill more people by 2040 than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined if infection trends continue.

According to the World Health Organization, hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can lead to health problems and be fatal. Currently, there are five strains, designated A through E, that differ in how they are transmitted, how severe the disease is, or how to prevent them. There are an estimated 325 million cases of hepatitis B or C worldwide.

Symptoms of A, B, and C may include fever, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, dark urine, jaundice, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. It can lead to chronic liver infection that can develop into cirrhosis or liver cancer. People infected with hepatitis B can develop hepatitis D and develop cirrhosis more quickly. Hepatitis E includes abdominal pain, itching, and joint pain.

Some types can be prevented by vaccination, such as A, especially B, which protects against D in the same way, and also reduces the risk of mother-to-child transmission if given during childbirth. Type B infection can be treated with antiviral drugs, and treatment can delay cirrhosis or reduce the incidence of liver cancer.

On the other hand, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, and some people recover on their own, while others may develop complications. This virus can be treated with antiviral drugs.