By Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

Every year, 28 July is observed worldwide as World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, promote early diagnosis, ensure access to effective treatment, and strengthen preventive measures. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set an ambitious goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030. However, achieving this target remains a significant challenge. A large proportion of infected individuals are unaware that they carry the virus, and many are diagnosed only after severe liver damage has already occurred.
The World Hepatitis Day 2026 theme, "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down," calls for breaking down barriers such as lack of awareness, stigma, discrimination, financial constraints, and limited access to healthcare so that everyone can benefit from timely testing and treatment.

What is Hepatitis? Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. Although viral infection is the most common cause, excessive alcohol consumption, certain medications, toxic chemicals, and autoimmune diseases can also lead to hepatitis. There are five major types of viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Among these, Hepatitis B and C pose the greatest public health concern because they can silently persist in the body for years, eventually leading to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. For this reason, hepatitis is often referred to as a "silent killer." Most infected individuals experience no symptoms during the early stages, allowing the virus to spread unknowingly to others.

Global and Bangladesh Situation
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 240 million people worldwide are living with chronic Hepatitis B, while around 47 million people are infected with chronic Hepatitis C. Each year, nearly 1.8 million new infections occur, and more than 1.3 million deaths result from hepatitis-related liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
In Bangladesh, hepatitis remains a major public health concern. Although the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has significantly reduced Hepatitis B infection among children, the prevalence among adults remains worrisome. Limited awareness, inadequate screening, restricted access to testing and treatment, and social stigma often delay diagnosis and medical care. Expanding safe blood transfusion services, ensuring sterilized medical equipment, increasing screening among high-risk populations, and strengthening public awareness are urgently needed.

How Does Hepatitis Spread?
Hepatitis A and E are primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water. In contrast, Hepatitis B and C spread through infected blood, unsterilized needles and syringes, unsafe surgical or dental procedures, unprotected sexual contact, and from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. Sharing razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes can also transmit the infection.

However, Hepatitis B and C do not spread through handshakes, hugging, sharing meals, coughing, sneezing, or using the same utensils. Therefore, there is no justification for stigmatizing or discriminating against infected individuals.

Who Is at Greater Risk? Higher-risk groups include newborns of infected mothers, pregnant women, healthcare workers, patients on dialysis, individuals requiring frequent blood transfusions, people who inject drugs, individuals with high-risk sexual behaviors, and people living in correctional facilities.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Many people remain symptom-free during the early stages of infection. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, dark urine, pain in the right upper abdomen, and generalized itching.

Important diagnostic tests include HBsAg, Anti-HCV, HBV DNA, HCV RNA, Liver Function Tests (LFTs), abdominal ultrasonography, and FibroScan. Regular screening of high-risk individuals plays a crucial role in early detection and timely treatment.Modern Treatment Offers Hope Although chronic Hepatitis B cannot yet be completely cured, modern antiviral medications can effectively suppress viral replication and significantly reduce disease progression. In contrast, Hepatitis C is now curable in most cases with Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) therapy. Therefore, a diagnosis of hepatitis should not lead to despair; instead, prompt medical evaluation and treatment are essential.

Homeopathic Management of Hepatitis
Homeopathy is based on the principle of "treating the patient, not merely the disease." Treatment is individualized, taking into account the patient's physical constitution, mental state, stage of illness, symptom profile, liver function, medical history, and laboratory findings.
Depending on the patient's symptoms, experienced and registered homeopathic physicians may consider remedies such as Chelidonium Majus, Carduus Marianus, Lycopodium, Nux Vomica, Phosphorus, China Officinalis, Mercurius Solubilis, Natrum Sulphuricum, Sulphur, Arsenicum Album, Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Calcarea Carbonica, Sepia, Kali Muriaticum, Ferrum Phosphoricum, Iris Versicolor, Podophyllum, Chionanthus Virginica, Myrica Cerifera, Hepar Sulphuris, Thuja Occidentalis, Graphites, Silicea, and Ferrum Metallicum, based on individual clinical assessment.
However, there is currently no reliable scientific evidence demonstrating that any specific homeopathic medicine is universally effective in treating hepatitis. Self-medication should be avoided. Patients experiencing severe jaundice, profound weakness, bleeding, abdominal swelling, persistent vomiting, or altered consciousness should seek immediate specialist medical care. Evidence-based antiviral therapy, regular follow-up, and appropriate laboratory monitoring remain the cornerstone of management for Hepatitis B and C. Individuals receiving homeopathic care should continue to follow the advice of qualified medical specialists.

Prevention Is the Best Strategy
Vaccination against Hepatitis B is the most effective preventive measure. Administering the birth dose within the first 24 hours of life is critically important. Additional preventive measures include receiving only screened blood transfusions, using sterile needles and syringes, practicing safe sex, avoiding the sharing of personal items, consuming safe food and clean drinking water, and ensuring regular screening for high-risk individuals.

The Role of Government
Eliminating hepatitis requires more than individual awareness. Governments must implement comprehensive long-term strategies, including expanding affordable screening services, ensuring access to effective treatment, achieving universal newborn vaccination, strengthening safe blood transfusion services, training healthcare professionals, and intensifying nationwide public awareness campaigns. Collaboration among healthcare institutions, educational organizations, religious leaders, media, and civil society is equally essential to eliminate stigma and discrimination.

Conclusion
Hepatitis is largely preventable and, in many cases, treatable or curable. Nevertheless, lack of awareness, delayed diagnosis, and inadequate access to healthcare continue to claim more than a million lives every year. The theme of World Hepatitis Day 2026—"Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down" reminds us that we must dismantle the barriers of ignorance, neglect, stigma, and inequality to ensure universal access to testing, vaccination, and effective treatment.

Through the collective efforts of individuals, families, communities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, a hepatitis-free Bangladesh is an achievable goal. A healthy liver is the foundation of a healthy life, and awareness remains our greatest strength in achieving that vision.

The author is a Columnist, Public Health Analyst and Researcher
Founder Chairman, Jatiya rogi Kalyan Society
E-mail: drmazed96@gmail.com