National Hepatitis Testing Day

National Hepatitis Testing Day is an American holiday dedicated to hepatitis testing. This day is important for maintaining your own health. Early detection of hepatitis will allow you to make urgent decisions about appropriate treatment and prevent the disease from developing. It is celebrated every year on May 19.

History

The history of National Hepatitis Testing Day begins in 2012. From the following year, it began to be celebrated permanently on May 19. The holiday is supported by national associations whose activities aim to raise awareness about hepatitis and improve care for all people in need.

Hepatitis is the collective name for diseases accompanied by liver damage and characterized by an inflammatory process. There are many varieties of this disease, each of which has its own clinical picture and requires specific treatment.

The most popular types of the disease are hepatitis A, B, and C. All of them are of viral nature. The first two are well studied, and a special vaccine has been developed to cure the patient. There is no vaccine against hepatitis C. In about 20% of people, the disease is cured on its own with the help of the immune system. In others, the disease can progress to the chronic stage (a quarter of patients risk cirrhosis or cancer).

Interesting facts

• The WHO estimates that about 2 billion people worldwide have hepatitis. About 400 million have chronic hepatitis.
• There is a different vaccine for each type of hepatitis (if one is developed). Determining the specific type of disease is the most important step in the screening process.
• The innovative drug sofosbuvir can be used to treat hepatitis C, but we cannot talk about its large-scale use, because a 12-week course of therapy will cost more than $80,000.

How to celebrate

Visit a clinic to be tested for hepatitis. Make sure there are no health problems. Provide financial assistance to organizations that raise money for children with hepatitis.

Spread the word about the holiday on social media. Ask users if they’ve ever had hepatitis. How did they cope with the disease?

When is National Hepatitis Testing Day in 2024?

National Hepatitis Testing Day is observed on May 19 each year.

Observations