On this World Hepatitis Day, (July 28th) Liver UK has revealed that over three quarters of the UK public are not aware that hepatitis B and C are risk factors for liver disease.
In the survey commissioned by the charity (previously known as the British Liver Trust and Children’s Liver Disease Foundation) only 23% of respondents knew that both hepatitis B and C can lead to liver damage.
Hepatitis B is a common virus affecting millions of people around the world, and while most adults will be able to fight off acute hepatitis B within months, living with chronic hep B increases the risk of serious liver damage and liver cancer. Because chronic hep B is usually picked up at birth, people infected may have no idea they have it until they develop serious liver disease in adulthood. An effective vaccine is now given to all babies born in the UK and is also available for free to anyone at risk.
Whilst there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, effective treatment is available. Most people infected will not have symptoms for years or even decades but if left untreated, the virus can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
“The real danger with both Hep B and C is that people affected could have mild or no symptoms for years while the virus is doing serious damage to their liver,” said Pam Healy, Chief Executive of Liver UK. “The lack of public awareness about this is concerning to us because if timely action is taken, serious liver disease can be prevented. It’s vital that anyone who thinks they might be infected or at risk seeks medical advice as early as possible.”
Information about the risk factors, symptoms and treatment for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C is available from Liver UK.
