Hyderabad, July 27: Viral hepatitis continues to be one of the world’s most neglected public health challenges, despite being preventable, diagnosable and, in many cases, treatable. This year’s World Hepatitis Day is being observed under the World Health Organization (WHO) theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” highlighting the urgent need to remove barriers to testing, vaccination, treatment and care. According to the WHO, viral hepatitis causes approximately 1.3 million deaths every year, making it one of the leading infectious causes of death globally.
India continues to carry one of the world’s largest hepatitis burdens. According to the World Health Organization and public health estimates, nearly 29 million Indians are living with chronic Hepatitis B infection and around 5.5 million with chronic Hepatitis C, accounting for a significant share of the global burden. However, a large proportion of infected individuals remain undiagnosed because the disease often progresses silently without causing noticeable symptoms until the liver has already sustained serious damage.
On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, specialists at CARE Hospitals cautioned that the lack of awareness and delayed diagnosis remain the biggest obstacles in preventing hepatitis-related liver disease in India. While considerable progress has been made through the Government of India’s National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), doctors believe that improving public awareness, expanding routine screening and increasing vaccination coverage are critical to achieving the country’s goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Doctors also pointed to an evolving trend in liver disease across the country. Although lifestyle-related conditions such as fatty liver disease are increasing rapidly, chronic Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C continue to remain among the leading causes of cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Many patients continue to reach advanced liver care centres only after developing jaundice, abdominal swelling, gastrointestinal bleeding, confusion due to liver failure, or liver cancer—when treatment becomes more complex and outcomes are less favourable.
Dr. Raghuram Kondala, Senior Consultant – Gastroenterology, CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, said, “One of the biggest challenges today is that hepatitis is often called a ‘silent disease’ because patients may remain completely healthy for years while the virus gradually damages the liver. We frequently see patients reaching us only after they develop cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer. At the same time, many people assume every liver problem is due to fatty liver or alcohol, while chronic Hepatitis B or C remains undiagnosed. Anyone with diabetes, obesity, previous blood transfusions, dialysis, a family history of liver disease, healthcare workers, or individuals with other risk factors should undergo hepatitis screening even if they have no symptoms.”
Doctors explained that Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E are usually spread through contaminated food and water and often cause acute infections, particularly during the monsoon season. In contrast, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are transmitted through infected blood, unsafe injections, unsterile medical or cosmetic procedures, sharing contaminated needles, unprotected sexual contact, and from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. Because these infections may remain silent for years, people often do not realise they are infected until advanced liver disease develops.
Doctors emphasised that persistent fatigue, unexplained weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, dark-coloured urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice), unexplained weight loss, abdominal swelling or recurrent digestive complaints should never be ignored. Even in the absence of symptoms, individuals with known risk factors should consider getting tested through simple blood investigations that can detect hepatitis before irreversible liver damage occurs.
Dr. Akash Chaudhary, Clinical Director and Sr. Consultant, Medical Gastroenterology, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, said, “The encouraging news is that hepatitis is no longer a disease we need to fear if it is diagnosed early. Hepatitis B can be effectively prevented through vaccination, while Hepatitis C can now be cured in the vast majority of patients with modern antiviral medicines. Unfortunately, the biggest barrier remains lack of awareness, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Simple blood tests performed before liver damage develops can prevent cirrhosis, liver cancer and even the need for liver transplantation. Eliminating hepatitis by 2030 is achievable only if screening becomes a routine part of preventive healthcare, especially for high-risk populations.”
The specialists also stressed the importance of universal Hepatitis B vaccination, particularly the timely birth-dose vaccine for newborns, regular screening of pregnant women, safe injection practices, strict blood screening, and maintaining high standards of infection control in healthcare settings. They urged people to avoid sharing razors, toothbrushes or needles, ensure that tattoos and piercings are performed using sterile equipment, and practise safe hygiene and food habits to reduce the risk of hepatitis transmission.
On World Hepatitis Day, CARE Hospitals appealed to the public not to wait for symptoms before seeking medical advice. Doctors reiterated that viral hepatitis is both preventable and treatable, and that early diagnosis remains the most effective way to prevent liver failure, liver cancer and unnecessary loss of life. Greater public awareness, timely vaccination, routine screening and early access to specialised liver care will be crucial if India is to meet its goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.