Hepatitis B and C are infections that can hurt your liver and even cause liver cancer.
Think of hepatitis as when your liver gets swollen and sick because of some bad germs, called viruses. There are five main types of these virus germs: Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A and E make your liver sick for a short time and then go away on their own. But Hepatitis B and C can stick around for a long time, making your liver sick for a while.
In India, Hepatitis B and C have become the biggest infectious diseases, even more than HIV and Tuberculosis.
Dr. Mayur Manji Mewada, a doctor from Mumbai, talked about how these infections spread. You can get them from having unsafe sex, using needles that others have used, getting blood that isn’t safe, and sharing things like razors or tattoo needles. He said that about 40 million Indians have chronic Hepatitis B, and around 12 million have chronic Hepatitis C.
Having Hepatitis B or C for a long time can make your liver get stiff and not work right, and it can even lead to liver cancer.
But the good news is that these problems can be stopped. There’s a program that’s trying to help, called the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program. It wants to get rid of Hepatitis C by 2030. If people know how to stay safe, get vaccinated, and get treated with special medicines, they can avoid getting these infections or even get better if they already have them.
Dr. Amitabh M Keny, another doctor, said that hepatitis can happen because of viruses, alcohol, drugs, or when the body fights against its own organs. The main viruses are Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.
Hepatitis B and C spread through things like sex without protection, using needles that have bad germs, and from a mom to her baby when the baby is being born. Hepatitis A and E spread through bad food and water, especially when it’s rainy.
Hepatitis B and C can stay in the body for a long time and make the liver very sick. But Hepatitis A and E usually just make people feel bad for a few weeks.
Remember, you can prevent hepatitis. Use protection during sex, don’t share needles or razors, and make sure your food and water are clean. Pregnant women should also get checked for these viruses.