Commemorating World Hepatitis Day 2025, Recognize Types And Symptoms To Watch Out For

JAKARTA - Every year on July 28 is commemorated by World Hepatitis Day. This commemoration is a momentum for the world community to be increasingly aware of the dangers of hepatitis and be aware of it.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 2 billion people worldwide who suffer from hepatitis and 1.4 million of them have died. Therefore, hepatitis can be categorized as a dangerous infectious disease and should be watched out for.

Quoted from WebMD, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, hepatitis is a liver inflammation disease that can be caused by various factors. Starting from viral infections, excessive alcohol consumption, the use of certain drugs, to autoimmune problems.

The inflammation can be acute (lasting less than 6 months) or chronic (lasting more than 6 months). This disease will greatly interfere with liver function, which is a vital organ for the body's metabolic process.

Hepatitis is divided into several types, whose causes and symptoms vary. Here are various types of hepatitis and symptoms that you should know and be aware of.

1. Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is caused by hepatitis A (HAV) virus and generally transmits through food or drinks, which are contaminated with the feces of infected people. Hepatitis A is usually acute and recovered within weeks, but in rare cases it can also become severe.

Some symptoms of hepatitis A in the form of dizziness, eyes and skin turn yellow, nausea and vomiting, sore throat, diarrhea, and lack of appetite.

2. Hepatitis B

This type of hepatitis is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is usually transmitted through blood, body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids, as well as from mother to baby at birth. Hepatitis B can become chronic and has the potential to cause cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.

The symptoms of hepatitis of this type are loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, body pain, high fever, stomach pain, eyes and skin turn yellow. Some of the patient's besa complains of discomfort in the upper abdomen and extraordinary fatigue.

3. Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C (HCV) virus, which can be transmitted through blood contact to the blood, such as sharing the use of syringes and unprotected sexual intercourse. This hepatitis can also become chronic and cause serious complications to the liver.

For hepatitis C symptoms, it is almost the same as hepatitis B. However, in this type, nearly 80 percent of infected patients will settle and could end up being hepatitis C chronic.

4. Hepatitis D

This hepatitis is caused by the hepatitis virus D (HDV) and can only infect people who are already infected with hepatitis B. Hepatitis D increases serious complications in hepatitis B.

Symptoms of hepatitis D are similar to other hepatitis types. However, this hepatitis is able to accelerate the process of liver fibrosis so as to accelerate the occurrence of liver cirrhosis and increase the risk of liver cancer.

5. Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E (HEV) virus and generally transmits through contaminated food or drinks. Hepatitis E is more common in developing countries and can be harmful to pregnant women.

Symptoms caused by hepatitis E also have fever, lack of appetite, stomach pain, to yellowing of the eyes and skin. Some patients who are selected by hepatitis E can become chronic hepatitis, especially in patients with declining immunity conditions.

If you have experienced various symptoms of these various types of hepatitis, you should immediately go to a doctor. It is also recommended that everyone take precautions so as not to get hepatitis by means of vaccination, run a healthy lifestyle, and maintain cleanliness.