One in 12 person worldwide is living with either chronic hepatitis B or C, and a majority of those infected are unaware they are suffering from the liver ailment. July 28, 2011, marks what is officially the first World Health Organization-supported World Hepatitis Day. Hepatitis kills more than one million people every year.

There is a need to recognize hepatitis as a major global health problem in order to advance the cause of its prevention and control. Liver is a vital organ of the human body and plays a major role in detoxification, protein synthesis, production of biochemicals for digestion and metabolism. If the liver gets infected, it impacts the body metabolism rate greatly.

HBV and HCV (hepatitis-B and hepatitis-C virus) being two kinds of hepatitis, the disease results in inflammation of liver. Studies show 70% of hepatitis patients get to know of its symptoms only at a later stage when they start showing symptoms like fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice.

Blood is the main carrier of hepatitis-C virus. The virus mainly spreads through direct contact with the blood of a person suffering from hepatitis-C. How it spreads Needles and syringes could spread hepatitis-C.

Other drug-injecting equipment could also carry the infection Through blood transfusion or blood components like clotting From a mother with hepatitis C to her baby, before or during the birth Through unprotected sex with someone infected by the virus By having a tattoo, ear-piercing, body-piercing or acupuncture with unsterilized or pre-used equipment During medical and dental treatment if the equipment used has not been sterilized By sharing razor or toothbrush contaminated with blood from someone who has the virus.