10 Songs to Encourage You To Get Checked for World Hepatitis Day

Walladmin

Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Jul 27, 2019

7 min read

It's not something that's on our minds all the time, but it's World Hepatitis Day today, the 28th of July, so let's talk. There are a few strains of this virus and for anyone who's floating around in the grey, here's some information thanks to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to make it a little more black and white.

Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that can cause mild to severe illness. It's transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water, or through direct contact with an infected person. But don't worry, almost everyone fully recovers from hepatitis A with a lifelong immunity.

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection that can also cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person and treatment does not cure chronic hepatitis B, it only suppresses the replication of the virus. In other words, you'll be on the treatment for life.

We also have Hepatitis C (and D and E, but these strains are less common) which can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis meaning your illness could be mild and last for a few weeks or it could become a serious, lifelong illness. A significant number of people who are chronically infected will develop cirrhosis or liver cancer, and unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccination for C.

And here are the facts:

400 million people are living with hepatitis, and 6-10 million are newly infected each year
95% of people with hepatitis don't know they're infected
Over 90% of people with hepatitis C can be completely cured of the virus within 3-6 months

Jeez, so what's the take away here? GET TESTED. Use protection! Go to a sexual health clinic before each new sexual partner. We need our livers, especially since August 2nd is International Beer Day! And if you need even more of a push, below are 10 songs to strongly encourage you to look after your sexual health and the health of your partner(s).