HEPATITIS B & C: THE SILENT EPIDEMICS THREATENING LIVER HEALTH WORLDWIDE

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BY OWOLABI OLUWADARA

As the world observes World Hepatitis Awareness Month this July, health experts are drawing attention to the ongoing public health crisis posed by Hepatitis B and C—two viral infections that continue to silently damage millions of lives, particularly in developing nations like Nigeria.

Both Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) primarily affect the liver, often without showing symptoms until significant damage has been done. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 350 million people globally are living with chronic hepatitis B or C, and a significant number of them are unaware of their infection status.

Hepatitis B is caused by the Hepatitis B virus, which is transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen, or other body fluids. This can occur through unprotected sex, sharing of needles or sharp instruments, unscreened blood transfusions, or from an infected mother to her child at birth. It can be acute (short-term) or become chronic, leading to liver inflammation, cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Fortunately, hepatitis B is preventable through a safe and effective vaccine that is widely available and recommended for infants and high-risk adults.

Hepatitis C, on the other hand, is caused by the Hepatitis C virus and is primarily spread through blood-to-blood contact, especially via injection drug use, unsafe medical practices, and poorly screened blood products. Unlike hepatitis B, hepatitis C infection is more likely to become chronic, and while no vaccine exists, there are highly effective antiviral medications that can cure more than 95% of chronic cases within 8–12 weeks of treatment.

Despite the severity of these infections, both forms of hepatitis are often called “silent killers” because symptoms typically do not appear until advanced stages of liver damage have occurred. These symptoms may include:

Persistent fatigue

Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)

Abdominal pain

Dark urine

Nausea or vomiting

Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss

Without early detection and intervention, chronic hepatitis can remain undiagnosed for years, gradually leading to irreversible damage.

Risk factors for hepatitis B and C include:

Multiple sexual partners

Sharing needles or razors

Unsafe tattooing or body piercing

Living with someone infected