In South Africa, thousands of people are believed to be living with viral hepatitis without knowing they are infected.
Every year on July 28, World Hepatitis Day shines a spotlight on one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, yet it is a disease that often goes unnoticed for years.
In South Africa, thousands of people are believed to be living with viral hepatitis without knowing that they are infected. This is a cause of concern, because it can put them at risk of severe liver disease, liver cancer and premature death.
The biggest challenge is that hepatitis often causes few or no symptoms until significant damage has already been done to the liver.
Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. While it can be caused by alcohol use, certain medications or autoimmune diseases, viral hepatitis remains the most common cause worldwide.
