WHO's global strategy on Viral Hepatitis has a goal of eliminating hepatitis B and C in the next 13 years. The NOhep community has been launched to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 and is the first ever such global movement. In India, hepatitis still haunts society as a silent killer that consumes nearly 1 lakh lives every year. Eliminate Hepatitis Almost 50 million Indians are infected with the hepatitis virus. India has the second largest number of hepatitis patients, after China. Poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water has been found to be the two probable causes of this acute viral infection in India.

Type Transmission Prevention Treatment
Hepatitis A(HAV) Water or food contaminated by faeces of infected person & raw shell fish Vaccination (Avaxim, Havrix), Practising good hygiene &sanitation, drinking boiled water It is acute phase only, infection cleared within week
Hepatitis B(HBV) Blood or body fluids (saliva, semen & vaginal fluid) of an infected person, mother to child during childbirth Vaccination (Biovac B, Shanvac B multidose), use condoms, avoid sharing needles, tooth brush, razors or nail scissors. Avoid tattoo piercing from unlicensed facilities Antiviral drugs such as alpha interferon, peginterferon. Children born to infected mother should be immediately vaccinated within 12 hours of birth.
Hepatitis C (HCV) Blood contact, rare cases sexually and during childbirth. No vaccinations available, avoid sharing needles, tooth brush, razors or nail scissors. Avoid tattoo piercing from unlicensed facilities. There is no vaccine. Potent Antiviral drugs such as PEGylated interferon and ribavirin
Hepatitis D(HDV) Contact with infected blood. HBV vaccination Reduce exposure, avoid sharing needles, tooth brush, razors or nail scissors. Avoid tattoo piercing from unlicensed facilities. Improve with antiviral interferon, so far, no effective drug available
Hepatitis E (HEV) Water or food contaminated by faeces of infected person & raw shell fish Practising good hygiene &sanitation, drinking boiled water. There is no vaccine. No treatment available, usually self limiting.

  Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. There are five different hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.

PREVENT VIRAL HEPATITIS

  • Hepatitis A and C are preventable, a simple step of washing hands go a long way in eliminating the disease.
  • Vaccination is the key to fight hepatitis B, while antiviral medicines can cure 90% of the Hepatitis C cases.
  • Avoid hepatitis A infection by ensuring your food and water is not contaminated.
  • Prevent hepatitis C infection by staying clear of any exposure to blood from a person who has the virus.
  • Nacto Pharma has recently launched in India a generic version of Gilead Sciences Inc’s Epclusa newly formulated drug (sofosbuvir400mg/velpatasvir 100mg fixed dose combination) for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in India.

PROMOTE LIVER HEALTH

  • To help the liver stay healthy including drinking lots of water, eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest.
  • Fatty foods, alcohol, drugs and cigarettes can be hard on the liver. Cutting back on any of these things will help the liver stay healthy.