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WiRED International Updates Module on Hepatitis
BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW AND BERNICE BORN
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iRED International now offers a revised module on hepatitis, a disease that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and that most commonly triggers cirrhosis and cancer of the liver.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused primarily by viruses but also by non-viral agents such as medications, alcohol overuse or toxic materials. The liver is the body’s largest internal organ and one of the most important because it fights infection, removes chemicals and toxins from the system, helps digest food and stores energy.
There are five main forms of hepatitis, classified as types A, B, C, D and E. While all cause liver disease, they vary in important ways. Because hepatitis has few symptoms or none, people can refer to WiRED’s Hepatitis module to learn the subtle signs and potential origins of the disease.
Resources
The WiRED module describes the prevention of hepatitis, the availability and use of vaccines, and the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes — which differ widely according to the hepatitis type. For example, Hepatitis A and E are typically associated with contaminated water or food. Hepatitis B, C and D usually result from contact with infected body fluids.
Hepatitis is a global concern because of the burden of illness and death it causes and the potential it creates for outbreaks and epidemics. WiRED believes in the importance of health education and prevention, which are particularly important with insidious diseases like hepatitis. While people with hepatitis do not usually display symptoms, the disease can result in serious, lifelong complications and even death.
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