Did
you know that Viral Hepatitis A, B and C are the most
common causes of Liver Disease in the world?
Hepatitis B (Hep B) is an acute to chronic liver disease. There is an estimated 240 million people living with Hep B worldwide. Hep B in children is usually not diagnosed until later adulthood when they have symptoms. Some common symptoms include lack of appetite, yellowing of the eyes (jaundice), nausea, vomiting and pain under the right rib cage. Did you know that Hep B is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide?
Hepatitis C (Hep C) is a mild to severe liver disease depending on how long it lasts. Hep C can last for a short time or long term throughout life. Some of the most common symptoms include excessive tiredness, yellowing of the eyes (jaundice), nausea and vomiting and pain under the right rib cage. There is an estimated 150 million people that are living with Hep C worldwide. Unlike Hep A and B, there is no vaccine available for Hep C.
Who are most at risk for Hepatitis?
Many people with Hep B or C do not know they have it until they have symptoms. Often times they are diagnosed many years later and have cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), end-stage liver disease or liver cancer.
You can STOP the silence by sharing the jade ribbon for Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Awareness to awaken people to Hepatitis, the silent killer. Also, join in with World Hepatitis Day activities on July 28th by sharing this blog post!
U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (2013). World hepatitis day press release. Retrieved http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/07/20130726a.html
Viral Hepatitis Action Coalition. (n.d). Current hepatitis news. Retrieved http://www.viralhepatitisaction.org/about/news?page=2
World Hepatitis Alliance. (2014). Key messages. Retrieved http://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/en/key-messages.html
World Health Organization. (2013). World hepatitis day: More must be done to stop this silent killer. Retrieved http://www.who.int/campaigns/hepatitis-day/2013/en/
Your Guide to Hepatitis. (n.d.). Hepatitis B: the basics. Retrieved http://www.hepmag.com/articles/2511_18749.shtml
Written by: Jameisha Brown, B.S.,
CHES
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Learn the A, B, C’s of a Silent Killer…
Hepatitis A (Hep A) is an acute, short lasting
liver disease. Hep A causes mild to severe inflammation of the
liver. Some common symptoms are loss of appetite, yellowing of the eyes
(jaundice) nausea, vomiting and pain under the right rib cage. There is an
estimated 1.4 million Hep A cases each year worldwide. Did
you know Hep A is the one of the most preventable types of
Hepatitis?
Hepatitis B (Hep B) is an acute to chronic liver disease. There is an estimated 240 million people living with Hep B worldwide. Hep B in children is usually not diagnosed until later adulthood when they have symptoms. Some common symptoms include lack of appetite, yellowing of the eyes (jaundice), nausea, vomiting and pain under the right rib cage. Did you know that Hep B is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide?
Hepatitis C (Hep C) is a mild to severe liver disease depending on how long it lasts. Hep C can last for a short time or long term throughout life. Some of the most common symptoms include excessive tiredness, yellowing of the eyes (jaundice), nausea and vomiting and pain under the right rib cage. There is an estimated 150 million people that are living with Hep C worldwide. Unlike Hep A and B, there is no vaccine available for Hep C.
Did
you know that Hepatitis C is the most common cause of
Liver Cancer in the U.S?
Who are most at risk for Hepatitis?
- People who inject drugs
- People who have sex with partners that are infected
- Children born from mothers with Hepatitis (except Hep A
- People who have received blood transfusions that were not tested
- Men who have sex with men
- People who have not had a Hepatitis Vaccine (for Hep A and B only)
- People who get tattoos or piercings with unsterilized and unsanitary equipment
Many people with Hep B or C do not know they have it until they have symptoms. Often times they are diagnosed many years later and have cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), end-stage liver disease or liver cancer.
You can STOP the silence by sharing the jade ribbon for Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Awareness to awaken people to Hepatitis, the silent killer. Also, join in with World Hepatitis Day activities on July 28th by sharing this blog post!
Recommended Resources
Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
(2014). Viral hepatitis statistics and surveillance. Retrieved http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Statistics/2011Surveillance/Commentary.htm
U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (2013). World hepatitis day press release. Retrieved http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/07/20130726a.html
Viral Hepatitis Action Coalition. (n.d). Current hepatitis news. Retrieved http://www.viralhepatitisaction.org/about/news?page=2
World Hepatitis Alliance. (2014). Key messages. Retrieved http://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/en/key-messages.html
World Health Organization. (2013). World hepatitis day: More must be done to stop this silent killer. Retrieved http://www.who.int/campaigns/hepatitis-day/2013/en/
Your Guide to Hepatitis. (n.d.). Hepatitis B: the basics. Retrieved http://www.hepmag.com/articles/2511_18749.shtml
Jameisha (Meisha) Brown is a Research Coordinator II in the
department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition at Baylor
College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Liver Center. She graduated with honors
from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion
with a minor in Psychology. She then earned a Graduate Certificate in Health
Disparities from the University Of Texas School Of Public Health at Houston.
She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Health Studies with a focus on
Higher Education at the Texas Woman’s University, College of Health Sciences.
