Online Reporter
Dr Tendai Zuze
Health Matters
MAY is Hepatitis Awareness Month, a good time to talk about a condition that affects thousands of people in Zimbabwe, but is often silent until it causes serious harm.
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver.
The liver is a vital organ that helps clean the blood, process nutrients, and fight infections. When it becomes inflamed, these functions are affected.
The most common cause is viral infection, and the main types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, and Hepatitis E. Although they all affect the liver, they behave quite differently.
Hepatitis A and E are usually spread through contaminated food or water. In many instances, this happens when sanitation is poor or during outbreaks linked to unsafe water. These types tend to cause short-term illness.
People may develop fever, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and sometimes yellowing of the eyes (jaundice).
Most patients recover fully without long term liver damage, although the illness can be quite uncomfortable.
Good hygiene, safe water, and proper food handling are key to prevention. There is an effective vaccine for Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B and C are more concerning because they can become chronic, meaning they stay in the body for many years. They are mainly spread through blood and body fluids.
This includes mother-to-child transmission at birth, unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, or exposure to infected blood. In Zimbabwe and much of Africa, Hepatitis B is particularly common and often acquired at birth or in early childhood.
The challenge with Hepatitis B and C is that many people feel completely well for years. There may be no symptoms at all until the liver is significantly damaged. Over time, chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) or even liver cancer. This is why testing is so important, especially for people at risk.
Hepatitis B has a very effective vaccine. Treatment does not always cure the infection, but it can control the virus and reduce the risk of complications. Hepatitis C, on the other hand, usually has no vaccine, but modern treatment can cure most patients if diagnosed early. Access to these treatments is improving, but awareness and testing remain the biggest gaps.
Hepatitis D is less common and only occurs in people who already have Hepatitis B. It tends to make the illness more severe and increases the risk of complications. Preventing Hepatitis B also prevents Hepatitis D.
Not all hepatitis is caused by viruses. Alcohol misuse, certain medications, and conditions where the immune system attacks the liver (autoimmune hepatitis) can also lead to liver inflammation. This is important when assessing patients, especially those with abnormal liver function tests.
Common warning signs of hepatitis include persistent tiredness, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal discomfort, and unexplained nausea.
However, many people will have no symptoms at all, which is why screening in high risk groups is important.
Prevention depends on the type. Vaccination (for Hepatitis A and B), safe sexual practices, avoiding sharing needles or sharp instruments, screening blood products, and ensuring clean water and sanitation all play a role. For healthcare workers and others at risk, vaccination against Hepatitis B is especially important.
Hepatitis is often silent but potentially serious. Many complications can be prevented through early detection, vaccination, and appropriate treatment.
For more on hepatitis, contact [email protected]
