May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. This month raises awareness about the various types of viral hepatitis and encourages timely testing, vaccination and treatment in the United States.

 

 

Tens of thousands of new cases of viral hepatitis occur every year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Viral hepatitis attacks the liver, which acts as the body’s filter. It is a serious, preventable public health threat that kills thousands of Americans each year. 

In addition to improving the availability of effective care and treatment, Hepatitis Awareness Month educates the public about the serious health consequences resulting from undiagnosed and untreated viral hepatitis including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, the need for a liver transplant and death. 

Throughout May, U.S. agencies and offices as well as state and local partners work to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination for hepatitis A and hepatitis B and testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

 

The month-long observance includes National Hispanic Hepatitis Testing Day on May 15 and Hepatitis Testing Day on May 19. These days, among others, mark important opportunities to improve the health of the estimated 862,000 people living with hepatitis B and 2.4 million people living with hepatitis C in the United States.

 

  

Stigma toward and prejudice against people with hepatitis are often caused by ignorance about hepatitis and how it is transmitted. This can negatively impact people’s personal and professional lives as well as their mental health. Stigma can also deter individuals from getting tested for hepatitis and seeking medical treatment when needed and can restrict work, study or travel opportunities.

 

Hepatitis Awareness Month activities help to improve everyone’s understanding of viral hepatitis transmission and risk factors and to decrease social stigma against viral hepatitis.

 

Join the conversation on social media. Use the hashtags #HepAware, #HepTestingDay, and #HepatitisAwarenessMonth to share information on viral hepatitis and Hepatitis Awareness Month. To browse the CDC’s social media toolkit for shareable Hepatitis Awareness Month content, click here.

 

To learn more, click #Viral Hepatitis or Hep’s Introduction to Liver Basics. It reads in part:

 

The liver is the largest organ in the human body. About the size of a football, it is located in the upper right part of the abdomen.

 

We can’t live without a functioning liver. It’s the body’s filter and warehouse. Almost all cells and tissues in the body depend on the liver. When something goes wrong with the liver, it can have an effect on almost every system the body.

 

The liver to removes toxins and waste products from the bloodstream and stores important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. The liver also plays a role in managing sugar and fat metabolism and hormone levels. In addition, it controls blood-clotting factors, which prevent excessive bleeding.

 

Hepatitis is a general term that means inflammation of the liver. The Greek word hepa refers to the liver, and itis means inflammation. Hepatitis has several possible causes, including:

 

–Microorganisms, including viruses

–Fatty Liver disease

–Toxins and chemicals, including alcohol

–Autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks the body.

 

There are five major viruses that infect liver cells called hepatocytes: hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) , hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D or delta virus (HDV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Hepatitis A and E cause acute infection that typically resolves on its own. Hepatitis B and C can cause chronic, or lifelong, infection. Hepatitis D only affects people who also have hepatitis B.